JOSHUA VS WILDER TALKS REIGNITE AS MATCHROOM TARGETS BLOCKBUSTER HEAVYWEIGHT CLASH
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
Speculation surrounding a long-anticipated showdown between Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder has resurfaced, with Matchroom Boxing reaffirming its interest in making the high-profile heavyweight bout a reality — nearly five years after it was first proposed.
Once billed as a unification super-fight during their title-holding reigns in 2018 and 2019, negotiations between the two heavyweights previously collapsed without a deal. However, the narrative is being revived, with Matchroom CEO Frank Smith confirming the fight remains a key target — contingent on Wilder winning his upcoming comeback bout.
“If he comes through his warm-up, Deontay Wilder,” Smith told Boxing News when asked about possible opponents for Joshua. “This sport is about narrative. It’s about buying into fights that people have an interest in, and that’s a fight that everyone would still have interest in. Regardless of whether it didn’t happen five years ago, people still want to see it now.”
Wilder, 39, is scheduled to face American heavyweight Tyrrell Herndon on June 27 in Kansas. The former WBC champion is attempting to rebuild his career after four losses in his last five fights — including high-profile defeats to Tyson Fury, Joseph Parker, and most recently, Zhilei Zhang.
Despite his dip in form, Wilder’s reputation as a fearsome knockout artist and box office attraction keeps him in contention for major bouts. A convincing win later this month could open the door to a long-awaited clash with Joshua.
Joshua, meanwhile, is recovering from elbow surgery and is expected to return to the ring in the autumn. Talks are said to be ongoing with organisers of Riyadh Season, with the possibility of a two-fight deal under discussion. While other names like Dillian Whyte and Jared Anderson have been floated, Whyte appears headed for a separate fight with rising British prospect Moses Itauma in August.
Smith suggested that Wilder is now the frontrunner, both commercially and in terms of fan interest. “I personally like the Deontay Wilder fight myself. I think there’s so much narrative there,” he said in a separate interview with BoxingScene. “AJ’s in a great position. He’s still commercially the biggest draw in the sport, I believe, but we’ve got to make the right decision and this is the biggest decision he’ll make of his career.”
For now, Matchroom’s focus is on ensuring Joshua returns to full fitness before making any formal announcements. “Get back in the gym, get 100 per cent, and then we’ll go for it,” Smith concluded.
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