Deontay "The Bronze Bomber" Wilder has made it clear that he harbors no bitterness over the fact that a fight with Anthony Joshua never materialised this summer. The former WBC heavyweight champion, who hails from the United States, has been floated as a possible opponent for the British star on several occasions, most recently by Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing.
Hearn hinted that a Wilder‑Joshua clash could be pencilled in before Joshua eventually faces Tyson Fury in a later part of 2026. However, the July bout that Joshua has booked will see him travel to Riyadh to take on the relatively unknown Albanian contender Kristian Prenga, not Wilder. Wilder’s manager, Shelly Finkel, has been vocal in defending his client’s outlook. Speaking to Sky Sports, Finkel said there is no room for disappointment over a fight that never existed.
“Eddie never reached out to us and Joshua clearly had no intention of stepping into the ring with Deontay,” he explained. “You can’t be upset about something that never happened.” The sentiment was echoed by Matchroom, which declined to comment when approached for a statement. The idea of a Wilder‑Joshua showdown is not new. Back in 2019, when the heavyweight division was on the verge of being unified, talks of a clash between the two seemed almost inevitable.
That momentum was abruptly halted when Joshua suffered an upset loss to Andy Ruiz, a defeat he later avenged in a rematch. Since then, the two have crossed paths on the same card only once, when Joshua knocked out Otto Wallin in 2023. On that same evening, Wilder experienced a surprise defeat at the hands of Joseph Parker, further complicating any immediate plans for a head‑to‑head encounter. Despite the missed opportunity, Wilder has remained active and optimistic about his future prospects.
Earlier this month he fought in the United Kingdom, securing a victory over Derek Chisora, a seasoned contender who has shared the ring with many of the division’s elite. That win has kept Wilder’s name in the conversation as a viable opponent for the sport’s top fighters.
One of the most tantalising possibilities on the horizon is a potential bout with the current unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk. Wilder has hinted that such a fight could still happen, stating to Sky Sports that he remains focused on achieving the goals he set at the start of his career. "Unless I decide to retire, which would be fine, I intend to keep pushing for the big moments," Wilder said.
"Unifying the division would be an overwhelming feeling – something I never got the chance to experience during my earlier reign." Wilder also addressed the swirling rumours that often accompany high‑profile negotiations. "I hear a lot of things. I don’t keep up with every whisper.
Sometimes I hear that Joshua wants to fight me, and the next day it seems he doesn’t," he remarked. "In this business, you never know what’s true. He’s one of the best fighters of this era, and I still need that fight to accomplish what I set out to do." The broader heavyweight landscape for 2026 is shaping up to be crowded with marquee matchups.
While Joshua prepares for his July showdown with Prenga, the sport’s governing bodies and promoters are already mapping out potential fights that could involve Fury, Usyk, and possibly a revived Wilder‑Joshua encounter at a later date. Fans are eager for a definitive answer, but as Finkel and Wilder have demonstrated, the focus remains on staying ready and keeping options open rather than dwelling on missed chances. In the meantime, Wilder’s camp continues to explore all avenues. The American heavyweight’s marketability, knockout power, and charismatic personality keep him in demand, whether it’s a domestic bout in the UK, a European showdown, or a high‑stakes clash in the Middle East.
His recent victory over Chisora has proven that he still possesses the skill set and physical condition to compete at the highest level, reinforcing his claim that a future fight with Joshua—or any other top‑tier opponent—remains a realistic goal. Ultimately, Wilder’s message is one of resilience and forward‑looking ambition. He refuses to let the lack of a Wilder‑Joshua fight this summer define his narrative. Instead, he is focused on building momentum, securing wins, and positioning himself for the next big payday that could finally bring the heavyweight unification he has long coveted.
As the year progresses, the boxing world will watch closely to see which opponent steps up to challenge the former champion, and whether the long‑awaited Wilder‑Joshua showdown will ever move from speculation to reality.