I don't think Wilder will want to take on a genuine threat before facing Joshua. A defeat would cost him his 'AJ pay day'. I suspect Parker will be avoided...
AJ has mandatory obligations with Pulev and Ortiz and Wilder was more interested in picking a fight with Bellew than Joshua. Wilder himself said 2018 is more likely and he wants Parker first, though you have to take everything he says with a huge pinch of salt. I doubt Wilder tries to unify at all.
I think Wilder desperately wants Parker. WBC screwed him by handing Stiverne the mandatory. If he has to fight him it will set the momentum created by AJ and Klitschko back 6 months. He can't vacate, its the only bargaining chip he has vs AJ, that belt. The only way he can avoid Stiverne while keeping the belt is unification. I don't see AJ taking Wilder next. I think he rematches Klitschko or fights Pulev. That leaves Parker. Makes sense for both. Only thing that would side track it is Parker taking the Bellew fight. I hope for the sake of the division Parker and Wilder get it on this summer in Vegas or NY. If Wilder wins it would give him another desperately needed credible win. Two belts. Raise his profile because I'm sure AJ would come for the fight. Gives him more bargaining with AJ for undisputed and gateway to cracking America.
Stiverne isn't mandatory from all I could find that was official. Last thing g in official writing was that there had to be a final eliminator between Stiverne and Ortiz. Neither wanted that matchup, but presumably there will still be a final eliminator to be mandatory
It was shortly after the Washington fight. It was all over WBC ordered it. Hell I hope I'm wrong. Ortiz would be a fun mandatory. I hope that's what happens.
Why not... Wilder can either: Make alot of money getting KO'd by AJ and retire with his family in peace or risk losing to a second or third tier fighter for less money.... I don't think Wilder has becomed disillusioned to where his place is in the division as shown by his opponent selection...
Do you have a link? I couldn't find anything online and I actually put a thread up asking about the status of WBC mandatory last week and no one could come up with anything official other than the article I about the eliminator. Anyway, you may be right but if you could post a link to something official that would be great.
If this fight happens it won't happen for a while because all talking aside one of them will lose so cow's need to be milked as long as possible..
