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Anthony Joshua’s Trainer Rips Into Deontay Wilder's Victory Over Luis Ortiz

Anthony Joshua’s Trainer Rips Into Deontay Wilder's Victory Over Luis Ortiz

Angel Fernandez has blasted Deontay Wilder and argued that the WBC champ doesn't have the "ring IQ or the intelligence in the ring."

Adnan Riaz

Adnan Riaz

Anthony Joshua's trainer has pulled no punches towards Deontay Wilder after claiming a younger Luis Ortiz would have destroyed him.

WBC champ Wilder, 34, was largely outboxed in his rematch with Cuban star Ortiz at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas last month.

But the 'Bronze Bomber' connected with a devastating punch in the seventh round to successfully retain the WBC championship.

Angel Fernandez, who was brought into the Joshua camp after the defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr in June, believes that Wilder wouldn't have stopped Ortiz if he were 28 years old.

"It's a difficult one. But the thing is, you have to take the strengths from Wilder away," he told Star Sports.

"The mistakes are going to be there, so you have to expose that, but you also have to take the strengths away.

PA

"I'm not going to tell you a way of how I would fight Wilder or how I would not fight Wilder, it's kind of like break him down with the analysis he's done with the team, bring in sparring partners, and then it's like a process.

"As you see the sparring going, you do some adjustments here, some adjustments there. You rewatch the fight again. It's a process. That's how it's been done with Ruiz this time.

"As a camp, sparring partners, things were changing. 'I want you to do this' or 'I want you to do that.'

"And with Wilder, we know how dangerous he is with his right hand.

"With [Luis] Ortiz, Ortiz should really beat him, but I think his age plays a big part in it. I think if Ortiz had been 28 years old, I think he would have beat Wilder."

PA
PA

Wilder is scheduled to defend his championship against Tyson Fury in their eagerly-awaited rematch on 22nd February.

But the KO artist has reignited his desire to set up a unification clash in 2020 with Joshua, who has also called for the mega-fight to take place next year.

Fernandez also insisted that he wants to see the two champions trade blows and crown a new undisputed world champion.

"Wilder, boxing-wise, I don't think he's got the ring IQ or the intelligence in the ring, but he has just got that one hand," he said.

"Fury found that out. He outboxed him for 12 rounds and at that last moment... the man only needs one hand.

PA
PA

"It will be an interesting one [a unification match] and if I'm part of it, oh my God, I will take it with both hands.

"It's great for the sport. Don't get me wrong, it's great for the sport.

"And that is something that drives Josh as well to achieve and become undisputed. Every single boxer would want to do that, especially in the heavyweight division."

Joshua, 30, became a two-time unified heavyweight champ after he avenged his only defeat to Ruiz earlier this month.

But the Brit superstar must now deal with his mandatory challengers as the IBF has called for him to face Kubrat Pulev.

Meanwhile, the WBO has also ordered that 'AJ' take on Oleksandr Usyk in 2020.

Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, has admitted that 'AJ' could be forced to vacate one of his world titles if they can't find a solution with the IBF and WBO.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: AJ, Luis Ortiz, Bronze Bomber, Boxing News, Anthony Joshua, Boxing, Deontay Wilder