Former four division world champion Roy Jones Jr. would love to see a heavyweight unification between Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder - but he feels the British superstar should take a few more fights before it happens.
Joshua (21-0, 20 KOs), who holds the IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO titles, is currently in talks to fight Wilder (40-0, 39 KOs), who has the WBC title around his waist.
Jones would like to see the 2012 Olympic gold medal winner get more experience before facing an opponent like Wilder.
Back in March, Joshua captured his fourth title belt with a twelve round unanimous decision over undefeated Joseph Parker in Cardiff, Wales.
“Of course I want to see it, but not next,” said Jones to Punch Lines UK.
“I’d like to see Joshua get one or two more preparation fights in. I see him on the incline, he’s getting better every fight but I want to see him at his peak when he fights Wilder. I think Wilder is kinda at his peak now and I’d like to see both men there for when they fight.”
One of the hurdles to make a Wilder vs. Joshua showdown is the fight location.
Wilder's team has already presented a guaranteed off of $50 million to Joshua - for the fight to take place in the United States.
But, Joshua would still rather stage the event in the UK - where he draws record crowds of up to 90,000 fans in a single fight.
When it comes to location, Jones has no problem with Joshua standing firm on having the event take place on UK soil.
“Anthony would be big in the States. But if you are making the sort of noise in the UK Joshua is then why go to the USA? Where the people are coming to watch you is where you should fight," Jones said.
“If the British fans want to go to the States to see him fight then fine. Thousands of Brits came to Vegas with Ricky Hatton when he fought Floyd Mayweather. But if I had the choice of fighting in front of 5,000 in the States or 80,000 in the UK, I’m sorry.”
