Deontay Wilder Eyes Anthony Joshua Showdown After London Triumph
Deontay Wilder has reignited talks of a blockbuster fight with Anthony Joshua, calling out the British heavyweight after securing a split-decision victory over Derek Chisora in London on Saturday. The American former WBC champion, who edged Chisora in a closely contested bout, wasted no time in challenging Joshua, who was ringside for the event.
Wilder's Direct Challenge to Joshua
Following the fight, Wilder came face to face with Joshua as he walked past, exchanging a fist-bump and issuing a bold declaration. "Let's do it," Wilder stated. "It wasn't a few words, I dapped it up with him and I said, now let's get it on. I'm ready for whoever, [as] long as these guys are in the heavyweight division, I am here. You can call me Mr Clean, because I want to clean up the whole division. The division is nothing without Deontay Wilder."
This potential matchup has been long anticipated by boxing fans, as Wilder and Joshua were once simultaneous world champions—Wilder holding the WBC title while Joshua possessed the WBA, IBF, and WBO belts. However, a unified championship fight never materialised, with both fighters later losing their titles: Wilder to Tyson Fury and Joshua to Oleksandr Usyk, who became the unified champion after defeating Fury in May 2024.
Joshua's Readiness and Recent Events
Anthony Joshua last fought in December, knocking out Jake Paul, but faced a tragic incident days later when a car accident in Nigeria left him hospitalised and claimed the lives of two close friends. Despite this, his promoter Eddie Hearn, who was present during the exchange with Wilder, expressed confidence in Joshua's willingness to take on the challenge. "He said, let's do it. AJ sort of stared at him ice cold, but he would fight him no problem," Hearn told Fight Hub TV.
Chisora's Emotional Farewell
In what marked the 50th and final contest of his wild career, Derek Chisora delivered one of his best performances against Wilder, climbing off the canvas in round eight to push the former champion to the distance. Despite a split-decision loss with scores of 115-111, 112-115, and 115-113, the 42-year-old British heavyweight reflected on his time in the ring with pride.
"Listen, it was a great fight, I've got to go home and talk to the boss and it is what it is," Chisora said alongside his son Zion. "You know what, I'll be honest with you, I'm tired now. I can't do it any more. You know when you know it's time, it is time. I've had a great career. It has been amazing."
Chisora, who turned professional in 2007, hinted at remaining involved in boxing in some capacity, though not as a fighter. "I say it's not over, I didn't say I was going to fight again but I might do something else in boxing," he added, leaving his future plans open-ended.
Implications for the Heavyweight Division
With Wilder's victory and call-out, the heavyweight landscape is poised for a potential reshuffle. A fight between Wilder and Joshua could draw massive global attention, offering both former champions a path back to title contention. As the boxing world awaits further developments, this matchup promises to be a pivotal moment in the sport's history.
