Wilder hits back at Klitschko claims ahead of Duhaupas defence

Undefeated American heavyweight Deontay Wilder has hit back at his former sparring partner Wladimir Klitchko ahead of his latest WBC world title defence against Johann Duhaupas, following criticism from the Ukrainian champion.

The 29-year-old faces French journeyman Duhaupas this weekend, aiming to record another knock-out victory, having stopped 33 of his 34 opponents so far, but was told by dominant world champion Klitschko to stop contesting weaker fighters.

Wilder is 10/1 with Coral to face a huge upset in the early hours of Sunday morning against a Frenchman who has lost twice in his 11-year career, but has hit back at the WBA Super, WBO and IBF king after his remarks.

“My brother brought that to my attention and I laughed, I almost laughed all day about it,” declared Wilder.

“Because for him to make that statement, basically is for him to really criticise his own self or to talk bad about himself because if he’s talking about opponents or whatever, he’s been doing the same thing for over a decade.

“He’s been fighting guys we don’t know names of or how to pronounce or where they came from. They came out of a rabbit box, you know. So for him to say that is very laughable to me.

“He already knows what it’s going to be when he faces me so of course if I fight everybody at the top, then that lessens the chance of him having to face me because of course I feel he wants me to lose.”

Klitschko has lost three times during a career spanning 67 professional fights and has been a world champion for nine years, a record which he will seek to continue when he meets outspoken Tyson Fury next month in Germany, where he is 21/20 to win by stoppage.

With the Ukrainian facing Fury in Dusseldorf on October 24th, Wilder believes that a unification bout with his former training partner is on the cards for next year.

“When I think about a Klitschko fight my mind for some reason has it in the month of September next year,” Wilder added.

“A lot depends on the mandatories being out of the way and having a clear date. But he wants it and I want it. Everybody wants that fight.”

Wilder, nicknamed ‘the Bronze Bomber’, claimed his world title in January when he dethroned Bermane Stivern on points, the only one of his 34 opponents which he has failed to stop prematurely.

The American champion has since defended his strap with a ninth-round stoppage triumph over Eric Molina and now comes face-to-face with ‘the Reptile’ Duhaupas at the Legacy Arena in Alabama, where he is the mammoth odds-on 1/25 favourite.

Betting tip: With Wilder heavy odds-on 1/25 favourite, add the American to a weekend boxing acca including Andy Ruiz Jr, Paulie Malignaggi and Frank Buglioni all to win and see the odds soar.