Deontay Wilder shows no sign of regret about the lost chance to face Anthony Joshua once more. The former WBC heavyweight champion from the United States has been mentioned repeatedly as a potential opponent for Joshua in the summer, a notion first floated by Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing. Hearn hinted that a Wilder‑Joshua clash could be pencilled in before Joshua’s anticipated bout with Tyson Fury, which is slated for later in 2026. Nevertheless, Joshua’s next fight is set for July, and it will be against the relatively unknown Albanian contender Kristian Prenga in Riyadh, not Wilder.
Shelly Finkel, who manages Wilder, made it clear that his fighter is not bothered by the missed opportunity. Speaking to Sky Sports, Finkel said, “You can’t be disappointed about something that never materialized.
Eddie never got in touch with us, and Joshua never seemed interested in stepping into the ring with Deontay.” Matchroom declined to comment when Sky Sports reached out for a statement, leaving the speculation open‑ended. The two heavyweights have flirted with a deal before. In 2019, a fight between them was on the verge of becoming a historic undisputed heavyweight title bout, but Joshua’s shock loss to Andy Ruiz derailed those plans. Joshua later avenged that defeat, but the Wilder‑Joshua showdown remained elusive.
The most recent brush with each other came in 2023 when both men appeared on the same card – Joshua knocked out Otto Wallin, while Wilder suffered an unexpected defeat to Joseph Parker. Earlier this month, Wilder traveled to the United Kingdom and secured a victory over Derek Chisora, reviving hopes that he could still land a marquee matchup. Beyond Joshua, Wilder’s camp has also been circling a possible clash with the unified champion Oleksandr Usyk. In past interviews with Sky Sports, Wilder expressed confidence that a fight with Usyk could still materialise, saying, “It can happen, and it will happen, unless I decide to retire – and if that happens, I’ll be fine with it.
I still have to fulfill the goals I set at the start of my career.” He added that unifying the heavyweight division would be a dream he has never gotten to realise, and that achieving it would be an overwhelming feeling. Wilder also commented on the ever‑shifting landscape of heavyweight negotiations, noting, “I hear a lot of things.
I don’t keep up with everything. One day I hear he wants to fight me, the next day he doesn’t.
In this business you never know what’s true.” He praised Joshua as one of the best fighters of the era and said that a bout with him would help him accomplish his own objectives. In summary, Wilder’s attitude remains pragmatic and forward‑looking. He acknowledges that the Joshua fight never truly existed in concrete terms, and therefore there is no cause for disappointment.
Instead, he continues to pursue other high‑profile opportunities, whether that means a future showdown with Joshua, a potential clash with Usyk, or any other bout that can move him closer to the long‑sought goal of heavyweight unification. The heavyweight division’s calendar for 2026 is still shaping up, with several big fights on the horizon, and Wilder appears ready to seize whatever chance arises, keeping his focus on the ring rather than on missed negotiations.