Anthony Joshua’s stablemate Tony Bellew predictably backed up his fellow-Matchroom fighter as the former WBC cruiserweight champion weighed in with his considerable verdict on the collapsed talks with Deontay Wilder.
Joshua and Wilder had been locked in negotiations to fully unify the heavyweight division until both sides went their separate ways due to disagreements over the contract.
Wilder offered $50m for Joshua to travel to the UK and then agreed to travel to the UK when that offer was rejected by the Briton.
Since then, Wilder has changed his tune and stated he wants a 50-50 deal after Joshua pulled out to fight Alexander Povetkin instead.
Giving his opinion on why things turned out badly, and where Wilder should be placed in the argument, Bellew pulled no punches in his column for Metro.
“I don’t understand what the big debate is here. I understand he’s said it’s chump change, but he has to understand he is the B-side in this fight,” Bellew told Metro.
“Whatever you describe this, Deontay Wilder is the B-side. No one knows who he is, he’s got one belt and fought absolutely nobody in 40 pro fights.
“The best win in his career was against Bermane Stiverne and the second fight was a one-round blowout. After that it’s Luis Ortiz. Let’s be honest, Ortiz was 90 years old when he fought Wilder.
“In my opinion, I’ve got a better record at heavyweight than Wilder. I fought a former heavyweight world champion twice.
“Wilder has to understand he is the B-side. He’s the man with on belt and no stand-out victories on his resume. Joshua has three belts, he is the best heavyweight in the world, he’s been in bigger fights.
“You have to ask yourself this question, why didn’t Wilder chase Wladimir Klitschko for a unification fight? He’s great on social media and does these great little videos, talking nonsense.
“He talks like he’s still on the streets,” he added.
