Joshua lays down gauntlet to Wilder and tells US star to ‘prove he’s the best’ with undisputed fight

ANTHONY JOSHUA has told Deontay Wilder to “prove he’s the best in the world” by finally taking him on in an undisputed title fight.

The two heavyweight champions have been locked in a bitter rivalry for two years with a string of failed negotiations and finger pointing fuelling their feud.

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Offers from both camps have been sent to their opposite numbers in the past - including a recent £100million three-fight deal by AJ’s US network DAZN which would see WBC champ Wilder face Joshua twice.

Wilder, 33, was advised to stay on board with Showtime and PBC however, and a fed up Joshua, 29, sent The Bronze Bomber a message on TMZ Sports urging him to “come see me”.

Joshua said: "I want Wilder, he's got that belt. I got the four belts - the WBA, the WBO, IBO and IBF - I just need the WBC.

“If he's ready and wants to prove he's the best in the world, [Wilder] can come see me.”

If Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn is correct, Wilder will not be able to “see” Joshua “until 2021”.

The claim comes after it emerged the Alabama world champ could face Luis Ortiz and Adam Kownacki after he fights Dominic Breazeale in his next outing.

Joshua will defend his unified titles against Mexican-American Andy Ruiz Jr at Madison Square Garden in what is the Watford ace’s Stateside debut.

Wilder’s countrymen Jarrell Miller was set to be the man AJ would defend his titles against, but after the ex-kickboxer failed three drug tests Ruiz was called up as a replacement.

Facing late understudy Ruiz, 29, will not leave AJ fazed, though the 2012 Olympic gold medallist expects a lot of “heart” from the man vying to become Mexico’s first heavyweight champ.

Joshua said: "Andy Ruiz is a strong, Mexican fighter.

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“You know how the Mexicans do, they come to fight, they are filled with heart. If they don't know him now, they will get to know him if they don't know him already.

"He's fighting to become the heavyweight champion of the world. Even if that was you, and you had the opportunity, I'm sure that you would be training and push yourself.

“And him being a fighter and having this opportunity, I'm sure that he knows what's at stake. He's gonna come game."

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