Deontay Wilder says an imminent return to boxing for Wladimir Klitschko is good news as a deal with DAZN remains in the pipeline.
Klitschko has been linked with a comeback all year and has a multi-million dollar contract at his disposal.
A clash with Wilder had been mentioned when ‘The Bronze Bomber’ himself was in talks with DAZN officials.
Since then, Wilder has signed on to defend his WBC heavyweight title against Dominic Breazeale. The American says the aging Klitschko has work to do to earn his chance.
“We’ll still have to see what he does, Let him get back in and build him up,” said Wilder.
“Look, Klitschko, when he fought (three-belt champion, Anthony) Joshua, he was out for two years. He came back and lost so he got to build himself back up.
“He can only live off his name for so long. You get to the point where (you’re not) that fighter that you used to be.”
Wilder continued: “I can’t say used to be somebody because he’s still somebody. He’s still Klitschko, he did amazing things in his career and you can never take that back.
“Even when I went into camp with him, I learned a lot of things from him. So you can never take that from him.
“But the fighting scene, when you come back, you gotta build yourself back up. Especially against someone like me, because I’m coming in for the kill.
“I ain’t playing around with nobody. I don’t think he’ll want that fight, to be honest in my opinion.
“Klitschko had many times to challenge me. Every time he comes back, ain’t nobody mentioning Deontay Wilder’s name because they know that this is a tough fight.”
LONG LIST
Breazeale comes first for Wilder before a potential rematch with Tyson Fury at the back end of the year.
Fitting any fight in with Klitschko, that’s if he comes back, seems nigh on an impossibility for 2019 or even 2020.
A whole host of contenders are in the frame to battle undefeated Wilder. They also include Luis Ortiz and Adam Kownacki.
