WBC, WBA welterweight champion Keith Thurman does not believe WBA, IBO, IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (20-0, 20 KOs) is ready for a unification with WBC champion Deontay Wilder (39-0, 38 KOs).
Thurman has no problem with Joshua's team holding off on making the unification.
Joshua is on a path to a potential unification with WBO champion Joseph Parker (24-0, 18 KOs) on a date in March or April.
Wilder wants the fight to hand as soon as possible. He doesn't want to wait, but his first stop appears to be a voluntary defense against Luis Ortiz on March 3 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
"That fight should happen from Deontay's standpoint, he's ready for anything - been ready, Joshua ain't really ready. It's okay to say that Joshua needs a little more time. Joshua is a little young. Not really green, but a little bit. We saw a little bit in the Klitschko fight and he hasn't been a twelve round fighter as long as Deontay Wilder has been. I think he can go around the track a few more times before going with Wilder. I think that's smart on their management team," Thurman told Fighthype.com.
"A lot of fight fans, we're ready for it too. I think Anthony Joshua can still build his name a little bit. I think Deontay Wilder can get more active since he hasn't been because of the drama with his opponents, injuries. Get more active, keep talking it up and getting in the boy's head. I'm split with it [whether or not it should happen now]. One wants it now and one wants it later and you can understand it from both standpoints."
As far as who wins? Thurman believes both fighters have the ability and punching power to come away with victory.
"Anthony Joshua has never been hit the way Wilder can hit him and Wilder has never been hit the way Joshua can hit him and that's why I love this fight. This is the heavyweight fight on this generation right now," Thurman said.
