Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder Down to Last Chance Before It’s Over
Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder is down to its final window — because this fight has already slipped away twice, and there won’t be another chance if it goes again.
For years, the heavyweight division circled this matchup as inevitable. Four belts, two champions, and a clear path to undisputed. It was there, and it remains there now but without the titles.
JUST IN: “He’s on the list”: Deontay Wilder could land shock world title fight t
It was already there once
The first collapse still defines everything that followed.
In 2018, a $50 million offer was made in writing for Joshua to face Wilder in the United States after that figure had been publicly requested.
Wilder then accepted terms to fight at Wembley for significantly less, removing location and financial obstacles in one move. Paperwork was exchanged, and clarifications were requested, but no response followed.
Instead, the focus turned toward a mandatory defense, and the undisputed fight moved out of reach despite being within touching distance. The WBA exception that could have cleared the way was never requested, leaving one of the biggest fights of the era unresolved.
During a later round of talks, Wilder turned down a DAZN offer that included Joshua in a mega-money deal.
The second chance ended the same way
Years later, the fight resurfaced.
Contracts were signed for December 2023, with Joshua and Wilder placed on the same card in Saudi Arabia, both expected to win and finally meet.
Joseph Parker’s win over Wilder ended that plan in a single night. What had been rebuilt over time unraveled in twelve rounds, and the fight fell out of reach again before it could happen.
They agreed to face each other, and still never shared a ring as the most significant missed opportunity collapsed in a heap.
Now it’s not about blame
Both men now find themselves in an unusual position. They are coming off wins, which hasn’t often been the case over the last five years as defeats repeatedly knocked the fight off course just as momentum began to build.
This time, the opportunity is cleaner. No belts are on the line. No undisputed stakes remain. The fight no longer carries the same weight it once did, but it still carries enough.
Tyson Fury is waiting in the wings for Joshua if he wins, offering an alternative that didn’t always exist. Letting that wait for a few months is one thing. Letting Wilder drift out of range again is another.
Wilder is approaching 41, and the margin for delay is almost gone.
One last window
After eight years of waiting, promoters on both sides cannot afford to miss this final opportunity.
This is the final window for Joshua vs Wilder — the last chance saloon.
The fight got away when the undisputed opportunity was there. It slipped again when the Saudi plan fell apart.
It’s still there now, but not for much longer. One more delay, and this stops being unfinished business and becomes something else entirely.
What was once the biggest fight in the heavyweight division is no longer about titles, leverage, or timing.
It comes down to whether it finally happens before the chance is gone for good. Let’s get it on – finally.
