What's Next for Deontay Wilder After His Victory Over Derek Chisora?

Deontay Wilder, although no longer the formidable force he once was, continues to prove his capacity for delivering excitement and chaos in the ring. His recent win over Derek Chisora at The O2 in London, secured via a split-decision victory, has reignited the embers of his career. This triumph, marked by Wilder's evident jubilation, suggests he believes there is still more to achieve, despite questions surrounding the significance of a win over a 42-year-old Chisora. The outcome could have been the end of the road for Wilder, but instead, he extends his record to 45-4-1 (43 KOs), paving the way for potential future paydays. The encounter between Wilder and Chisora was followed by a tense moment between Wilder and Anthony Joshua, fueling speculation about a potential fight between two of the heavyweight division's biggest names over the last decade. The prospect of a Wilder-Joshua fight has long been coveted, primarily due to their brute power and knockout capabilities. However, as time passes, there's a growing fear that the opportunity for this clash may have been missed. Joshua, formerly the unified WBA, IBF, and WBO champion, and Wilder, the WBC belt holder, never managed to agree on a fight. Instead, Wilder lost to Tyson Fury, while Joshua was outclassed by Oleksandr Usyk. The presence of Joshua at Wilder's fight against Chisora has heightened the possibility of them finally facing each other, with Joshua's immediate plans still unclear following a car accident in Nigeria. After his victory, Wilder challenged Joshua, saying, "Let's do it," to which Joshua replied, "You're not ready for that." Wilder retorted, "He's scared as f***. Let's do it." Joshua last fought in December, defeating Jake Paul, and was initially on track to face Fury in a highly anticipated contest. It remains to be seen if Wilder could potentially enter the fray. Wilder expressed his interest in facing Usyk, who is gearing up to defend his WBC heavyweight title against Rico Verhoeven. Usyk has hinted at having only three fights left in his career, sparking speculation about potential opponents, including a third fight with Fury, a clash with Moses Itauma, or a meeting with the winner of the Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois fight. Wilder, seeking marquee names in the final stages of his career, underlined his desire to add Usyk to his resume, believing it can happen if he maintains his confidence. The American is one win away from a potential fight with Usyk, who he considers one of the best in the era. Wilder was central to a notable trilogy with Fury from 2018-2021, marked by a draw and two losses to the Gypsy King. Although a fourth fight might not be necessary, given that neither man is the same fighter, Wilder remains confident in his ability to make an impact at the top of the heavyweight division. He believes he can "clean up" the division, asserting his chosen status and continuous improvement. Wilder also expressed interest in facing Moses Itauma, the undefeated British heavyweight, who recently extended his perfect record to 14-0 with a knockout victory over Jermaine Franklin. Wilder, not one to dodge fights, is looking forward to testing Itauma, acknowledging his potential as a champion.