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Deontay Wilder has told long-time rival Anthony Joshua to finally get it on after years of failed negotiations and plans.
Despite the one-time super-fight being years past its best, Wilder is still open to trading blows with the man who has eluded him his entire championship career.
As World Boxing News covered extensively in 2018, the time to make that fight came right after Joshua defeated Joseph Parker. AJ held three belts (WBA, IBF, and WBO) as Wilder reigned as WBC heavyweight champion.
Wilder called Joshua’s bluff on a $50 million Showtime offer, and serious negotiations began on the part of the American.
Co-manager Shelly Finkel continually updated WBN on their side of the talks, accusing Joshua and Hearn of constantly making unrealistic demands.
After months of stalling, Joshua agreed to battle Alexander Povetkin days after the World Boxing Association set its mandatory.
As WBN exclusively revealed at the time, the WBA was ready to give Joshua an exception to avoid Povetkin for a few months and fight Wilder.
By that time, Joshua had already moved on.
Now, seven years later, Wilder still hopes to nail down the bout that collapsed again in December 2023 at ‘Day of Reckoning.’ A Riyadh Season decision to place both on the same bill in a semi-final before meeting each other backfired spectacularly.
Wilder lost to Joshua’s old rival Parker as the Briton beat Otto Wallin. There was no salvaging the event as Joshua fought Francis Ngannou instead.
The fight should have taken place in 2018, when both were at their peak. Joshua’s loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. effectively put an end to his invincibility factor, as Tyson Fury did to Wilder in 2020.
If the pair do go head-to-head in 2025 after Wilder comes through a routine comeback against Tyrrell Herndon this week, the fight will be a money-making exercise only.
Deontay Wilder sings to Anthony Joshua
Speaking to PPV.com, Wilder serenaded Joshua with his version of Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let’s Get It On’.
Order #WilderHerndon on https://t.co/op5b8eTm95 https://t.co/mseiME3LhV
— PPV.COM (@ppv_com) June 19, 2025
Fans will never truly know who was the better fighter, as they delayed the headliner far too long.
One man who believes the fight should still happen is Joey Daweyko. The Philadelphia heavyweight WBN named as the sparring partner who troubled Joshua in a 2019 sparring session before the Ruiz loss, told WBN the bout should happen and predicted victory for his fellow American.
“Deontay Wilder would beat Anthony Joshua only because of his punching power, and Joshua gets hit,” Dawejko exclusively told World Boxing News. “Joshua’s chin is a little suspect.
“I always thought Wilder would win. I honestly think it’s an intriguing fight, still. Even though they’re a little past it now, I still love that fight,” he added.
Will one last pay day finally give boxing the heavyweight fight they have craved, even if both are past their expiration date?
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Read all articles and exclusive interviews by Phil Jay and learn more about the author. Phil Jay is an experienced boxing writer and Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News since 2010.
