Heavyweight contender Dominic Breazeale is looking to continue his winning ways as he battles Carlos Negron on Saturday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Breazeale, who has won two straight fights since losing to Anthony Joshua, wants to beat Negron so he can get to WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder.
“I think fighting a guy like Carlos Negron is a stepping stone to getting the fight with Deontay WIlder,” Breazeale said on Thursday. “He has similar size and stature, so it’s like a rough sketch for the title fight. I want to stay in rhythm and dust off any cobwebs there may be, so I’m active and ready when the Wilder fight comes.”
There is no love lost between Wilder and Breazeale after the two had an altercation at an Alabama hotel back in 2017. The two have had a war of words since. Breazeale would later file a lawsuit against Wilder, but ultimately that case was dismissed.
At this point, according to Breazeale, Wilder is running from him.
“I’m only chasing the belt because Deontay Wilder is running,” he said.
Wilder is coming off a controversial draw against Tyson Fury on December 1. If Wilder does not fight Fury or Joshua, Breazeale could be an option for him, and with the bad blood between the two, it could make for an exciting fight. However, it does not happen unless Breazeale beats Negron on Saturday night.