In a recent turn of events, the heavyweight boxing scene is buzzing with anticipation and speculation. Anthony Joshua, the former heavyweight champion, is set to face Deontay Wilder before a potential showdown with Tyson Fury. This strategic move, announced by Matchroom Boxing CEO Eddie Hearn, aims to prepare Joshua for the highly anticipated Fury bout later this year.
Hearn emphasized the need for a warm-up fight, citing Joshua’s recent recovery from an accident and the necessity to rehabilitate his body. “We need a warm-up fight before we fight Tyson Fury, because AJ’s coming off an accident, he’s rehabilitating his body. We’ll take Deontay Wilder as that warm-up fight and then we’ll fight Tyson Fury in December,” Hearn stated.
Deontay Wilder, known for his formidable knockout power, recently secured a split decision victory over Derek Chisora at The O2 Arena in London. With a record of 45 wins (43 by knockout), four losses, and one draw, Wilder remains a formidable opponent. Joshua, on the other hand, last fought in December 2025, defeating Jake Paul by a sixth-round knockout, bringing his record to 29 wins (26 by knockout) and four losses.
Tyson Fury, never one to shy away from expressing his opinions, has urged Joshua to bypass the Wilder fight and focus on their potential clash. Fury dismissed Wilder as “a shell of himself” and argued that Joshua has already had a warm-up bout. “If you get knocked upside down, then it’s finished, it’s gone,” Fury cautioned.
Fury’s recent victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov has set the stage for what could be a monumental showdown with Joshua. However, attempts to publicly secure a commitment from Joshua and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, have so far been unsuccessful. Fury’s direct challenge to Joshua, “Come on, you big shit-house, are you going to fight or not?” was met with a calm and collected response from Joshua, who indicated that any negotiations would need to be handled appropriately.
The narrative seems to be spinning towards Fury’s readiness to fight, while Joshua’s camp appears to be taking a more measured approach. Despite the theatrics and public posturing, it is clear that a Fury vs. Joshua fight is the ultimate goal for both camps. The boxing world eagerly awaits further developments, hoping that the two heavyweights will eventually meet in the ring to settle the score once and for all.
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