Deontay Wilder has his sights set on a colossal heavyweight bout with Anthony Joshua, simply not this 12 months.
The previous WBC world champion confirmed that he’s excited by lastly entering into the ring with the British star in 2026, as he prepares for a serious comeback this summer time.
Talking to 78SPORTSTV, Wilder was clear about his intentions:
“Not this 12 months for positive, however within the close to future. Perhaps someday subsequent 12 months,” he stated. “I’ve simply received to get myself again collectively at the start, and I’ve received to show to myself that I’m again collectively like I really feel.”
The Alabama-born powerhouse hasn’t fought since a troublesome defeat to Zhilei Zhang in June 2024, and has been recovering from long-standing shoulder points that he says brought on continual ache for 5 years.
However now, Wilder’s return is formally locked in. He’ll face Tyrrell Herndon in June, a matchup he believes is right to shake off the rust and measure his comeback potential.
“I just like the opponent choice,” Wilder defined. “The principle aim is to get again on the market and get issues again collectively to see the place I’m. With all of the issues which have occurred to me over the previous few years, I believe it’s an important choice.”
Wilder additionally revealed he’s aiming for a three-fight 12 months, with the subsequent bout possible going down abroad earlier than a 3rd by the tip of 2025.
Regardless of the setbacks and surgical procedure recoveries, Wilder says the dream hasn’t modified: turning into undisputed heavyweight champion. “We’re nonetheless on a mission,” he emphasised. “I used to be presupposed to have achieved all these items a very long time in the past if I had the alternatives that others did.”
His feedback trace at a deep frustration over missed probabilities, presumably referencing his historic rivalry with Tyson Fury, which left Wilder with two defeats and a draw between 2018 and 2021.
“I’ve been on a journey with therapeutic my shoulders. Anyone who is aware of about shoulder accidents will know that it is among the longest processes that there’s,” he stated. “However at this second in time, I’m pain-free.”
That well being replace is main for followers who’ve adopted his profession intently. Wilder’s thunderous knockout energy has at all times made him a fan favourite, however back-to-back losses, inactivity, and accidents have forged doubts over whether or not he may nonetheless contend on the elite degree.
The proposed Deontay Wilder vs Anthony Joshua battle has been boxing’s “what if” fantasy for years. Talks have surfaced and collapsed repeatedly since 2018, with promotional politics, title priorities, and timing continually derailing the matchup.
However 2026 would possibly lastly be the 12 months. Joshua has been rebuilding his personal legacy following defeats to Oleksandr Usyk and is reportedly open to high-profile fights within the subsequent 12–18 months, particularly because the heavyweight division enters a brand new period of realignment.
For now, Wilder is aware of the main focus has to remain on the highway forward, not simply his rival throughout the Atlantic.
“I’ve received to take it one battle at a time. I’m not speeding something, however that [Joshua fight] is unquestionably on the radar,” he stated.
Keep tuned for Wilder’s official battle date with Herndon, and updates on whether or not boxing followers will lastly get the explosive showdown they’ve been ready practically a decade for.
