Boxing
It's time! Why now is the moment for Wilder-Joshua after Chisora win
Wardley vs. Dubois: DAZN PPV - May 9
Sometimes in life, things are better to have happened than to never take place at all.
Words seldom ring truer when it comes tp Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua. A fight between two of the major heavyweights of their generation has been long-mooted.
Now, after Wilder's dominant performance on Saturday against Derek Chisora, the moment is now for the two of the last decade's greats to settle their rivalry inside the ring
Wilder edges Chisora in entertaining slugfest
Watch fight highlights here
We have been around this song and dance before with Wilder and Joshua. Before, it was promotional battle lines, and outlets dug in their heels that didn't allow the American and the Brit to lock horns when they were in their proverbial primes.
They had a deal in place in 2024 to fight, but Wilder then came up short against Joseph Parker. A subsequent stoppage loss to Zhilei Zhang and a Joshua knockout loss to Daniel Dubois seemed to wipe out any hope of the fight ever happening. But then something strange happened.
Wilder gained a stoppage win in a so-so performance at the end of June over Tyrrell Herndon. Planning a secret November return to shake the rust off, Joshua instead got an opportunity to fight Jake Paul. Joshua wiped Paul out, and his profile grew bigger than it had ever been before.
Couple Wilder's performance against Chisora with then a brief confrontation after Saturday's fight, and you could be forgiven for hoping.
Wilder was headed for the backstage area and his locker room, when he happened to cross paths with Joshua talking to some people.
The Briton turned, where the American excitedly told him, "Let's do it. Let's do it."
Joshua smiled, and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, smiled wider.
Joshua is back in training. The plan had been for him to take an interim fight before a possible showdown with Tyson Fury.
Why can't that fight be against Wilder?
It's a very winnable fight for either guy; it would sell out a stadium anywhere in the world, and millions of people would be watching in anticipation to see who could score the knockout.
There's no better time than the present to make Deontay Wilder vs. Anthony Joshua. Neither guy has anything going on.
It's time to stop talking. It's time the fight.
Queensberry PromotionsWatch Wardley vs. Dubois only on DAZN
The WBO world heavyweight title is on the line for Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois on May 9, only on DAZN PPV. Buy as a one-off PPV or included, along with Usyk vs Verhoeven (May 23), with a DAZN Ultimate Tier subscription.
