Deontay Wilder invites Anthony Joshua to face him, stating the matchup is logical.
Deontay Wilder proclaimed in the exhilarating aftermath of his victory over Derek Chisora that he is back and prepared to contend for world titles.
Although the outcome was hard-fought and essential, with Wilder securing a split decision win, it did not showcase the classic Bronze Bomber display he aimed for, even against a notably tough, resilient, and spirited adversary in Chisora.
The American triumphed on points for only the second occasion in his career and sustained a suspected broken right hand early in the bout, which likely diminished his power, yet it was a significant result.
“I’m a king and I demonstrated that tonight,” Wilder stated in the ring.
“The punches are absorbed, and I returned. It’s all about enjoying the process. I needed to recover. It took a considerable amount of time for me to heal, but I’m back. And I’m going to improve each and every time.”
He did not achieve the decisive knockout he anticipated, but the win does place Wilder back in contention for major fights againβeven if they are not for world titles just yet.
They do not necessarily have to be.
There was a potential opponent who makes sense ringside in Anthony Joshua.
Wilder passed by Joshua on his way to the dressing room after the fight, telling him, “let’s do it.”
The Brit is back in training alongside Oleksandr Usyk and made his first public appearance in the UK since the accident he was involved in on New Year’s Eve, which resulted in the deaths of two of his close friends.
Joshua and Wilder were linked to a fight over six years ago when both were at their peak, but a deal was never finalized. They signed in December 2023, but those plans fell through when Wilder lost to Joseph Parker.
Now, as they both aim to conclude their careers with significant bouts, a clash between them would still generate substantial interest, and there should be no further delays.
Wilder possesses considerable star power in the UK, and a match against Joshua would sell out an outdoor venue. It is also time to acknowledge that both are currently far from the titles, as others have earned the opportunity to compete for them.
The Wilder-Joshua matchup is a contest that fans deserve and still raises numerous intriguing questions.
How would Joshua manage Wilder’s power considering what was observed in his loss to Daniel Dubois? Could Wilder handle a fully fit Joshua pressuring him? What insights will Joshua gain while training with Usyk, and how might that influence the outcome?
It is a high-stakes fight for both, likely more so for Joshua given his time away from the ring, along with the possibility of a Tyson Fury bout later on. The most significant fight in the division remains Fury-Joshua, with cautious optimism that it will eventually materialize.
Fury’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has indicated they would likely seek a fight before then, leaving the door open for Wilder.
Why not? In a time when we are beginning to see the matchups we desire, Wilder-Joshua arguably makes more sense now than ever.
