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Anthony Joshua dismisses Deontay Wilder as an 'elite-level fighter'

"I am an elite-level fighter. I'm not one of those tomato cans he's knocked out."

Anthony Joshua has dismissed Deontay Wilder as an "elite-level fighter" and says there are plenty of heavyweights ready to "kick his ass".
Wilder is preparing to face Tyson Fury in the third bout between the pair in Las Vegas on July 24. But he has had plenty to say about Joshua in the build up to the fight at the T-Mobile Arena.

Wilder, 35, has his sights firmly set on Joshua, as long as the pair get through their next opponents. Wilder has to get past another tangle with the 'Gypsy King', while AJ has a WBO mandatory title defence with Oleksandr Usyk, probably in September.

The Alabama native though has suggested that Joshua is "already making up excuses" to swerve him, post Fury.

The comments have not gone unnoticed by 31-year-old Joshua, who has reiterated his opinion that the 'Bronze Bomber' has just one weapon in his armoury.
With 41 stoppages from 44 fights, Wilder's big right hand is a fearsome weapon. Joshua though says it's impossible to be a one-trick pony at the top of the heavyweight charts.

"He isn't an elite-level fighter, in my opinion," Joshua told Sky Sports News.

"He's good. It's the heavyweights, so they always know one punch can change the course of a fight.

"But I've never, ever seen in the heavyweight division a fighter going to war with just one weapon, which is what they say is his right hand."

Joshua, who knocked out Kubrat Pulev in London in December 2020 in his last fight, says he is baffled by the "excuses" talk.

'I'm not one of those tomato cans'

"When you get to the top level? Trust me, that don't last anymore. That don't work.
"As we've seen now with certain fights of elite-level fighters, he struggles at the top level, and there's a lot more of us waiting for that opportunity as well to kick his ass."

The 6ft 6in WBA, IBF and WBO title holder does not believe he has anything to fear from Wilder.

He told Sky Sports: "This is the first time I'm talking about Deontay Wilder, so I don't know what excuses he's thinking I'm making.
"I'm a throwback fighter. Check the resume, I've been in with all of them. The new school and the old school, and there's still a lot more to do. I'm fighting a great fighter in Usyk.
"I will fight them all. Wilder is just another one in the pecking order, no problem.
"I don't know what excuses he's talking about.
"Talk is cheap, it's the cheapest thing to buy on Earth is talk.
"I am an elite-level fighter. I'm not one of those tomato cans he's knocked out.
"He'd better watch what he's saying and have a reality check, because when the day comes for me and him to face, I know what I'm capable of doing."
Wilder though, literally has bigger fish to fry first. The trilogy fight with 6ft 9in Fury is just a month away.

Fireworks were predicted at their six-minute face off last week in Las Vegas. Wilder however refused to speak.

He has though opened up since and told ESNews: "I'm strictly business when it comes to this fight. I'm going to let him do the circus, let him promote.

"If you've kept up with me, you already know how I feel. So less talk, more action from me."

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