Is the Anthony Joshua vs. Deontay Wilder Fight Still Worth It?
- Bernard Neequaye
- 15 minutes ago
- 3 min read
For years, the mere mention of Anthony Joshua vs. Deontay Wilder would ignite social media. Fans, pundits, and suits would use any medium available to voice their strong opinions on a heavyweight showdown that could define an era.
All that talk went for naught. Both would go on to lose their world titles and prestige. The fight itself lingered in negotiations, finger-pointing and ultimately fell by the wayside along with the other boxing “what ifs.” Now, with both men navigating the twilight of their careers, the questions have resurfaced and fight fans are asking themselves: Is Joshua-Wilder still worth it?
Wilder’s recent decision win over Derek Chisora was telling. It was far from the devastating performances that was once his calling card, although the last great American heavyweight said afterward that he backed off once he saw Chisora fading. There may be some truth to that as cameras caught him mouthing the words “I’m sorry. I love you” right before firing another right hand with vicious intentions.
There were, however, flashes of the old “Bronze Bomber.” And some new wrinkles. He took several clean shots without being fazed, made more judicious use of his jab, hurt Chisora with a beautiful counter left hook (not the right!) and dropped the grizzled Brit twice.
But the aura of inevitability that once surrounded his right hand felt diminished. It was once the carrier of boxing’s most feared weapon. Since his punishing trilogy with Tyson Fury, Wilder has looked more human, more beatable, and ultimately, more uncertain.
Joshua’s story over the same period has been no less complicated. Losses to Oleksandr Usyk reshaped perceptions of his technical ceiling, while his defeat to Daniel Dubois exposed lingering questions about his resilience under pressure. Once the division’s standard-bearer, Joshua is now rebuilding, physically, mentally, and strategically. Like Wilder, some fans believe AJ’s best days are behind him.
Yet despite all this, Joshua-Wilder continues to beckon.
Following the win over Chisora, Wilder passed Joshua ringside. He delivered a simple challenge: “Let’s do it.” – a moment that went viral. Once again. It echoed years of stalled negotiations and missed opportunities. Time, it seems, has stripped the fight of its original stakes but not its intrigue.
The stylistic questions still linger. How would Joshua cope with Wilder’s power, especially after what we saw in his defeat against Daniel Dubois? Conversely, could Wilder withstand a fully fit Joshua walking him down? These uncertainties, once framed in terms of supremacy, are no less intriguing.
Commercially, the fight is undeniable. Both are two of the biggest names in the sport and could sell out anywhere in the world. A stadium fight in the U.K. would be massive. The demand is there, perhaps even heightened by the sense that this is the last realistic window to make it happen.
Still, the risks are real. What’s the incentive for Joshua? His long-term prospects could hinge on whether he secures a future mega-fight, most notably against Fury. For Wilder, another loss likely ends his career at that level, if not entirely. But oh, what wonders a KO win would do for Deontay Wilder. The possibilities are endless.
Wilder vs. Joshua is a fight the fans deserve, one that arguably makes more sense now more than ever.
So, is it worth it?
Not in the way it once was, not as a unification clash or a battle for divisional supremacy, but as a meeting of two fighters seeking redemption, closure, and one final defining chapter. It may be more meaningful than ever. In a sport built as much on timing as talent, Wilder vs. Joshua may have arrived late, but it has not arrived empty.
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