Trainer urges Deontay Wilder to not think about fighting former world champion next

Malik Scott, the trainer for former WBC world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, does not want his fighter to get distracted ahead of his next contest. 

Following 14 months of inactivity, Wilder returned to the ring in December, but this did not go as planned with the American losing to former WBO champion Joseph Parker on the judges' scorecards. 

This defeat has left Wilder at a crossroads when it comes to his career, but he has been offered a lifeline with a meeting against Zhilei Zhang supposedly in the works. 

There is one name however which continues to follow Wilder and that is two-time world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. 

The two fighters have often been linked with what would be a huge clash and it seemed closer than ever to materialising towards the end of 2023. Unfortunately for Wilder his loss to Parker put these plans on hold with Joshua now pushing towards a world title shot. 

While Joshua's name will be something frequently mentioned whenever Wilder is preparing to step into the ring, his trainer Malik Scott has urged the fighter to not get distracted and instead focus on a potential meeting with Zhang. 

"I'm sure Deontay still wants AJ but we're in a place right now where we're dealing with a high-level dangerous fight," Scott told Instant Casinos. 

"We need to deal with what's in front of us, especially coming off our last performance. I don't want his focus or desire anywhere but knocking Zhang out. 

"We really cannot afford anything else. Deontay is back vengeful. Against Joseph Parker the rounds went by and he wasn't vengeful, he was in a place of contentment, a place of not being able to let the trigger go. 

"But now our back is against the wall, he knows what he needs to do. I think Zhang's size, power and danger will bring the best out of Deontay."

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