After his win over Derek Chisora, Deontay Wilder came face-to-face with Anthony Joshua and made his move to try and secure a long-awaited fight with the British-Nigerian
Joshua was ringside as Wilder defeated the veteran Chisora in a back-and-forth slugfest at London’s O2 Arena on Sunday. It was a much-needed return to winning ways for Wilder, who has dismissed retirement talks and is targeting big fights again.
A showdown that has come close to fruition on several occasions is the long-anticipated clash with Joshua, whose boxing return remains uncertain following the death of his close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele, in an accident in Nigeria last December. As the American left the ring for his dressing room, he spotted Joshua waiting nearby. The pair exchanged a respectful bump before Wilder made his intentions clear.
He said, “Let’s do it.”
Joshua simply held his gaze and offered no response in a tense moment. In a separate encounter, the pair ignored each other’s presence in another awkward corridor exchange.
Joshua has, however, stepped up preparations for a summer comeback by returning to full training camp, linking up with the team of former unified heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk as he closes in on his first fight since the December car crash in Nigeria.
AJ knocked out Jake Paul in his last outing but sustained injuries in the accident, which delayed his 2026 plans. He is now expected to return in July, with a bout also being eyed as a potential lucrative meeting with Tyson Fury.
Wilder, meanwhile, insists he is fully healed and ready to face Joshua next. Speaking to talkSPORT, he said, “Put up or shut up, baby.
“I’m ready and back now. A healed Wilder is a dangerous Wilder. I’ll come anywhere in the world to fight.”