Deontay Wilder could finally be set to end what’s been a long wait to fight Anthony Joshua, and according to his agent Shelly Finkel, is ‘hoping’ an offer to take on the British fighter will be made later in 2024.
The heavyweights have been circling eachother for years, with boxing fans eager to see Joshua and Wilder square off in the ring. But before a fight can be made, Wilder is set to return to the ring to avenge his defeat against Joseph Parker, as he takes on Zhilei Zhang during Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren‘s 5v5 event in June.
Joshua, meanwhile, is yet to announce his next opponent, after he claimed an emphatic knockout victory against Francis Ngannou in March. While it seems he is waiting to set up a fight against Tyson Fury, who will take on Oleksandr Usyk on May 18, reports from The Sun claim that Joshua could return to the ring in September.
Saudi boxing excecutive Turki Alalshikh is set to be coordinating the fight which will take place at Wembley and could see Wilder step in to face the British fighter, if he beats Zhang in the summer.
According to his promoter, Shelly Finkel, the former heavyweight champion is ready to step up to the occasion, if an offer is tabled.
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Deontay Wilder could set up a fight against Anthony Joshua in September at Wembley
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Joshua is yet to announce his next opponent but reports claim he could fight later this autumn
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Wilder (second right), meanwhile, is set to join up with Eddie Hearn (first right) to take on Zhilei Zhang (left) at 5v5
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‘It’s speculation but if everything goes OK on June 1 like we hope and expect and that’s brought to us, we’re totally open,’ his manager Finkel told The Sun.
He added: ‘But no, there hasn’t been any direct conversation.’
In 2023, Eddie Hearn claimed that a bout between Joshua and Wilder had finally been ‘signed’ and ‘was set to be announced’ after the Day of Reckoning.
But those plans to announce the bout were scuppered, after the Bronze Bomber suffered a unanimous decision defeat by Joseph Parker in December.
Hearn said: ‘We had signed the Wilder contract. It was going to be announced tonight, but that’s boxing. It’s one that we believed we would win and if anyone was going to beat him, I was pleased it was Joe [Parker].’
Hearne and Wilder have previously not seen eye-to-eye, with Wilder insisting the promoter’s agency, Matchroom, ‘held Joshua back from agreeing a £40million deal to fight him’ in 2023.
While the pair have fired jibes back and forth over the years, with Hearn calling the 38-year-old’s loss to Parker ‘the most one-sided heavyweight fights ever,’ it now appears Wilder and the promoter have buried the hatchet.
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His promoter Shelly Finkel (left) admitted they are ‘hoping’ to receive an offer to fight Joshua
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Hearn (left) and Wilder have not seen eye-to-eye before, but seem to have buried the hatchet
In a shock U-turn, the Bronze Bomber has now announced a collaboration with the Matchroom promoter as he goes head-to-head with Frank Warren, in their blockbuster 5v5 card, which is set to take place on June 1.
During the evening, Wilder will look to avenge his defeat by Parker against Zhang, with his promoter Finkel, stressing that his 40-year-old opponent will be a tough match for Wilder.
‘Now we have a big fight in front of us and as long as he does what he’s supposed to, hopefully that’ll be history and then we’ll go forward,’ Finkel said.
He added: ‘Zhang is not someone you can play around with it’s a fight that if you’re going to beat this guy you’ve got to hurt him early and stop him from being too aggressive.’
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Wilder will be looking to avenge his defeat by Joseph Parker (pictured) back in December
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It seems fans may have to wait to see Tyson Fury (left) take on Anthony Joshua, with the Gypsy King set to take on Oleksandr Usyk later this year.
A fight between Fury and Joshua is reportedly one of three bouts that Saudi boxing chief Alalshikh wants to make.
And despite their recent commitments that have prevented the two from meeting head-on-head in the ring, that hasn’t stopped fans speculating about a potential fight.
Fury, meanwhile, looks like he will be engaged for the remainder of the year, having signed a rematch clause to fight Usyk. That leaves Joshua looking for another opponent and there is a chance Wilder could potentially set up a meeting with the Brit, if he beats Zhang this summer.
