Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder might finally face off in the ring. The long-awaited heavyweight clash has gained new life after Tyson Fury's retirement left Joshua without an opponent.
For nearly a decade, boxing fans have wanted to see Joshua and Wilder trade punches. Their paths to the top of the heavyweight division ran parallel. Wilder grabbed the WBC heavyweight title in January 2015, and Joshua followed suit with the IBF strap in early 2016. Despite numerous callouts from both sides, the fight never came together.
Recently, it looked like the chance had slipped away. Wilder suffered back-to-back defeats against Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang, which seemed to put an end to any Joshua-Wilder bout. But Fury's retirement has changed the landscape. Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, has hinted that the fight could still happen.
Joey Dawejko, a heavyweight who has sparred with both men, thinks Wilder would come out on top. He shared his thoughts with World Boxing News.
"Deontay Wilder would beat Anthony Joshua only because of his punching power, and Joshua gets hit. 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."
While Joshua vs Wilder is generating buzz, it's not the only option on the table. Martin Bakole has also been mentioned as a potential opponent for Joshua. The heavyweight division remains fluid, and fans will have to wait and see which matchup comes to fruition.
