Anthony Joshua believes that Deontay Wilder has now made it clear that he did not duck a fight with the U.S. boxer.
Wilder and Joshua were often linked with a fight as two undefeated champions between 2016 and 2019, but both ultimately lost their belts, to Tyson Fury and Andy Ruiz Jr., respectively.
Joshua has since won his titles back from Ruiz, but Wilder appears to have lost the chance at a rematch to avenge his defeat to Tyson Fury.
Wilder has been active on social media over the past week and accused Fury of altering his gloves with a weight of some kind, and suggested that he was drugged with a muscle relaxant before the fight.
As part of an outburst on Twitter directed to Fury, Wilder said: “You know I was offered more money to fight Joshua than I was getting to fight you. Again being a man of my word, I fought you.”
Wilder’s camp had previously claimed that Joshua had ducked the Bronze Bomber, but that appears not to have been the case.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Joshua said he believed he was now vindicated.
"It makes the ultimate sense,” he said.
"It's hard because at the time when people are talking and you see lots of media stuff, you start to believe what that person is saying.
"When time goes by, naturally the truth will always reveal itself.
"I get a lot of stick but I take it with a pinch of salt.
"He admitted it. We made him a lucrative offer, but he wanted to face Fury.
"So be it. If that's what he wanted to do, fine. But he dragged my name through the mud.
"While Wilder was trying to make me look like a bad person, that I didn't want to enhance the sport, or fight certain fighters, I just had to roll with the punches.
"He has come out and said it himself. We offered him a really good deal but he wanted to fight Fury.
"People can take it how they want, and see what the truth is now."
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn believes that Wilder may now have blown his chance of another title fight in the coming years, with his client and Fury set to meet twice in 2021 with the IBF, WBA, WBO and WBC titles on the line.