Former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder issued a direct challenge to Anthony Joshua following his split-decision victory over Derek Chisora in London on Saturday, setting up what could be a blockbuster fight between the two ex-titleholders.
The dramatic moment unfolded when Wilder approached Joshua immediately after his win, with the two fighters coming face-to-face ringside. After exchanging a fist bump, the Alabama native made his intentions clear, telling Joshua, “Let’s do it.”
Speaking to media afterward, Wilder elaborated on the encounter. “It wasn’t a few words, I dapped it up with him and I said, now let’s get it on,” the American explained when questioned about their exchange.
The 38-year-old fighter expressed confidence about taking on any challenger in the division. “I’m ready for whoever, long as these guys are in the heavyweight division, I am here. You can call me Mr Clean, because I want to clean up the whole division. The division is nothing without Deontay Wilder,” he declared.
The potential matchup represents a fight that boxing fans have anticipated for years. During their respective championship reigns, Wilder held the WBC title while Joshua possessed the WBA, IBF and WBO belts, but negotiations for a unification bout never succeeded. Both fighters subsequently lost their championships – Wilder to Tyson Fury and Joshua to Oleksandr Usyk.
Usyk currently holds all the major heavyweight titles after defeating Fury in May 2024 to become the undisputed champion.
Joshua last competed in December, scoring a knockout victory against Jake Paul. However, tragedy struck days later when the British fighter was hospitalized following a car crash in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two close friends.
Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter who witnessed the post-fight exchange, indicated his fighter would be willing to accept Wilder’s challenge. “He said, let’s do it. AJ sort of stared at him ice cold, but he would fight him no problem,” Hearn told Fight Hub TV.
