Anthony Joshua ready to fight Deontay Wilder after ringside call-out
Anthony Joshua is willing to put his money-spinning clash with Tyson Fury at risk by facing Deontay Wilder this summer.
Joshua watched Wilder edge out Derek Chisora on Saturday night in his first public appearance since he was involved in a tragic car crash last December. The former heavyweight world champion has been recuperating since the smash which killed his close friends Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele.
But Joshua is now back in training and has pencilled in his return for July. And after witnessing Wilder drop Chisora en route to a split-decision points victory, the Brit is ready to finally settle their long-running rivalry. The pair held talks in 2018 when they both held versions of the world championship but a $50million deal collapsed.
READ: Video shows exactly what Deontay Wilder said to Anthony Joshua
And contracts were signed in 2023 for a two-fight dust-up only for Wilder to lose to Joseph Parker to leave the plan in ruins. The American crossed paths with Joshua as he left the ring on Saturday and demanded: “Now let’s get it on”. At 40, Wilder is past the peak of his devastating powers and was unable to knock out Chisora in the Brit’s farewell fight.
He will also undergo scans on his right hand amid fears he fractured it during his 45th career victory. But should he and Joshua strike a deal, Wilder still possesses the power to wreck the long-awaited Battle of Britain. Fury will end his 16-month hiatus from the ring on Saturday night against Arslanbek Makhmudov with Joshua expected to be in attendance.
Wilder, meanwhile, claimed he went EASY on Chisora to ensure he retired with his health intact. Chisora will hang up his gloves after his 50th professional fight ended in defeat. And Wilder said: “He has fought everyone, so why not retire? Even in the ring I was thinking about his retirement. My team were telling me to push forward but I held back a couple of times.
“When I cut his eye I started thinking about him being with his children. When I saw veins coming out of his temple, I started thinking that this is a dangerous sport. I felt a little sympathy for him. I was even talking to him, like, ‘Derek, come on, we need to stop this, man, we need to stop this’.”
