Anthony Joshua told he has a ‘weak mindset’ and ‘to grow up’ by Deontay Wilder as rival launches blistering attack

DEONTAY WILDER has launched a blistering attack on Anthony Joshua – just days after begging him for a lucrative showdown.

The pair were on course for a multi-million-pound January joust before Saudi boxing chiefs pulled the plug on the long-overdue grudge match.

Deontay Wilder made a heartfelt plea to Anthony Joshua this week to settle their five-year-long feudINSTAGRAM@BRONZEBOMBER

PAJoshua has yet to respond to the former WBC heavyweight champion’s call-out[/caption]

Joshua’s silence has prompted a scathing attack from The Bronze BomberGETTY

Former WBC heavyweight king Wilder took to social media this week to issue a polite call out to his long-time rival, although he’s since changed his tune and branded him mentally “weak”.

The Bronze Bomber told 78SportsTV: “With Anthony, I’ve always felt he had a weak mindset.

“I’ve always felt he wasn’t too confident in himself.

“He needs that affirmation of words to tell himself certain things.

“I been saying that for a long time, and it just continues to seem that way.”

Joshua, 34, has yet to respond to Wilder’s now-viral social media post – much to the annoyance of the American.

He said: “Let me know if Joshua responds if he gets him a little heart, some kind of courage or bravery, and see if we can start brand new.

“It’s about that time now. We can’t wait no more.

“You gotta start making your commands and demands and don’t get sucked into the bulls*** of what the promotion is doing.”

The 37-year-old added: “At some point in time he gotta grow up and become a man.

“What I mean as a man is a man in the state of boxing.

“You gotta say ‘I’m gonna overcome my fears, I’m gonna make this fight no matter what my promoter might say.’”

Joshua seldom takes part in social media verbal warfare, although he occasionally has responded to Brit rival Tyson Fury.

Wilder, however, interprets the former unified heavyweight champion’s silence as a sign of weakness.

The Alabama slammer said of AJ: “He really don’t wanna fight me.

“It’s more pressure each and every time someone mentions it.

“He’s gotta understand that, as long as your in this business of boxing and I’m in it.

“People are gonna want to see that match-up.

“We can fight each other three, four, five times. People will sit and watch it every time.”