Joshua Could've fought Wilder last year

I didn't mean
Tune-up > Parker > Tune-up > Joshua

Basically, if Wilder had wanted a tune up for Parker who was rebuilding, then it follows that they will have wanted a tune up for Joshua who is considered the more dangerous opponent. This means Parker was the tune up for Wilder before Joshua.

This tells us Team Wilder were not going to be ready to fight Joshua in place of Wallin (1 rnd against Helenius a year prior isn't good prep for one of the biggest fights of his career). Unfortunately he lost to Parker, which ruled out Joshua v Wilder fighting until Wilder could get a notable win. Then he lost to Zhang.

I suppose Joshua could have completely A-sided Wilder and forced him in the ring after a year of inactivity without a tune-up, but then there would always be question marks around the result.

In contrast, Wilder beating Parker, and Joshua beating Wallin would have set up a mega fight. Unfortunately, we know what happened

 

If AJ fought Wilder and obviously beat Wilder then he wouldn't got the credit for it. Similar to many now not giving Parker and Zhang the credit for it but dismissing it as Wilder got old over night and not accepting the truth that Wilder wasn't as good as they made out to begin with.

 

No one's to blame for that fight not happening at that time. It would've been a huge disappointment and a one sided beating. Having Wilder prove himself against wilder after a 4 year long losing streak seems like a good move.

If Wilder wanted a payday he should've taken the fight years ago. One one except Wilder and his team is to blame for this fight not happening.

 

Joshua didn't need the tune up, he had been fighting regularly, it was Wilder who needed the tune up having not fought for 14 months. Joshua fought 4 months prior, the 2nd time he'd fought that year. You are literally looking up at the sky, seeing it's blue and then swearing it's red, because you want it to be red.

 

Ain't that the truth. The number of excuses coming out after the Parker loss were ludicrous, too inactive, too old, shot, gun shy, injured, etc. You just know without that tune up to show Wilder was still legit people would have totally discredited Joshua beating Wilder.

 

OK, and why does it matter that Joshua is partially to blame for the fight not happening, in your words?

 

It would, it's to far past it's sell by date

 

Nice conjecture, but the only solid FACT we have about who avoided who is that Wilder turned down a $100m deal to fight AJ in 2019, citing nebulous reasons about 'dishonesty' or something then being unable to expand on what he meant by that when interviewed.

That to me is a bit more telling than this post.

 

It's easy to say that now with hindsight but Whyte was on a good run with wins over Helenius, Parker, Chisora KO, 26-0 Rivas.

You know damn well Joey if Joshua had never fought Whyte and he was Joshua's mandatory for over 2 years you would be bringing that up now.

It's only because you're defending Wilder and you're finding an excuse for Wilder's clear ducking of Whyte.