‘You’re a Coward’ – Wilder Insults Anthony Joshua

WBC world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder has ramped up his verbal assault on Anthony Joshua, calling him and his promoter Eddie Hearn “cowards”.

This comes after Joshua was on Tuesday ordered by the WBA to agree a deal to face Russia’s Alexander Povetkin, a move that could delay any potential bout between Joshua and Wilder.

And in an expletive-laden tweet Wednesday, Wilder didn’t hold back his frustrations over the latest setback to their long-drawn talks, saying: “You’re not a true champion You’re just a weak minded coward that’s holding hard metal. #Facts.”

He continued: “All they had to do is say they were scared to fight. Period. But instead they made themselves look like what they are, not stand up guys.

“I’m so happy it’s over now I’ve done my part.”

The eagerly anticipated fight between Joshua, 28, and Wilder, 32, would see the winner become the lineal champion by holding all four heavyweight world titles.

It would also prove to be one of the most lucrative in the sport’s history and Wilder’s series of tweets contained insults about both Joshua and promoter Hearn.

The American claimed Joshua and Hearn had “led boxing fans on for three months”, adding they “never wanted this fight”.

Povetkin knocked out David Price in March to become mandatory challenger for the WBA belt.

The 38-year-old Russian has 34 wins from 35 bouts with his one defeat coming against Wladimir Klitschko in 2013.