Deontay Wilder: “I would love to see Mayweather and Pacquiao one more time. I think a rematch will be a closer fight”

Reigning WBC heavyweight champion of the world, Deontay Wilder, is one of the new stars of the sport that is hoping he can carry the mantle of Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao with his box office appeal and accomplishments. Wilder fights this weekend against Artur Szpilka and he is hoping to kick off the new year by showing he is ready to become the next superstar of boxing.

In part 2 of my “On The Ropes” boxing radio interview with Deontay Wilder, I get his thoughts on former eight division world champion, Manny Pacquiao and get his views on what the ‘Pac Man’ meant to boxing fans. Wilder also talks about his desire to see a Mayweather vs. Pacquiao rematch and why he thinks a second fight should happen. Additionally, Deontay breaks down what fans can expect from him this Saturday night when he defends his title. Here is what Deontay Wilder had to say.

Jenna J: Manny Pacquiao will be having his final career bout on April 9th, what are your thoughts on Manny Pacquiao and what he has accomplished in boxing?

Deontay Wilder: I think a guy that was unknown and came to the States to be known and then to be able to do the things that he’s done, it’s amazing. I think Manny has nothing else to prove anymore, I think he’s done a great job and has definitely been an ambassador of boxing. A lot of people look up to him, he makes his country proud as well and he can definitely go out with his head held high and say he’s accomplished a lot of things for the sport of boxing.

I want to tell him that I appreciate him for his time and his sacrifice up in the ring, because it’s not easy to risk your life in the ring each and every time and not knowing what’s gonna happen after the fight. Sometimes we may be good after a fight but then days or weeks later something is wrong with us because the head is not meant to be hit in the first place. People don’t know how serious boxing really is, to be getting hit with these small gloves. With that being said, I applaud him for a job well done and I thank him for the entertainment and the things he’s done for boxing.

Jenna J: Deontay, being that we are in the new year, what one fight would you as a boxing fan most like to see happen?

Deontay Wilder: People would probably disagree, both guys said they would retire, but I think Floyd’s coming back. If Floyd’s coming back, I would love to see Floyd and Manny one more time. The first time, I already knew what was gonna happen, it was a great performance from Floyd but I think a second time will be a closer fight.

I think that would be the fight that I would love to see, Manny having a rematch with Floyd one more time. If Floyd wins, he beats Rocky Marciano’s record and he can officially retire, because I know he’s coming back. Floyd is not a guy that looks to tie with anyone, he’s just not a person you would think would retire with a tie with somebody. If Floyd wins that, he can successfully retire and making history as well by defeating Manny again. If Manny wins, he can also retire, whether he wins, loses or draws.

Jenna J: In your upcoming fight with Artur Szpilka, what do you expect to happen? Will we see you deeper in the fight like your last few or are you going for a early finish?

Deontay Wilder: 2016 is a new year for me and I definitely want to make a statement not only to my fans and supporters and to the critics, but to all the heavyweights in the division that Deontay Wilder is hot. I am not playing this year.

My last couple of fights, especially after I won my title, I broke my hand and it took a while for my hand to recover. It’s almost been a year now with my hand and my last fight where I defended my title, it was maybe only eighty to eighty five percent. Even when I would hit the bag or the mitts, or guys in the face in my championship fights, I would still have that tingling feeling, so I couldn’t put a lot of pressure on my right hand. Now it’s one hundred percent and I’m looking forward to testing it on Szpilka.

I’m looking forward to going back to those times where I was a four or under fighter, getting them out of there in four rounds or under, that’s what I want to go back to. I’ve proved everything, I proved that I could take a punch, that I can go rounds — I can go twelve rounds and still look fresh in the twelfth — I can box, I can fight on the inside.

At this point in time I’m mixing everything up in 2016 and going back to my four rounds and under. So you can expect the beast to come out of me on January 16th on Showtime at the Barclay’s Center, you don’t want to miss it. Tune in, stay tuned in and in 2016 I’ll be the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.