Deontay Wilder has publicly challenged Anthony Joshua for a highly anticipated fight between the former heavyweight champions, following his narrow split-decision win over Derek Chisora in London on Saturday.
After the bout, Wilder approached Joshua, who was present ringside, and the two shared a fist bump. Wilder expressed his eagerness for a clash, stating, “Let’s do it. It was just a few words; I gave him a fist bump and said, now let’s get it on. I’m prepared for anyone in the heavyweight division. You can call me Mr. Clean because I aim to dominate the entire division. It’s incomplete without Deontay Wilder.”
Previously, Wilder held the WBC title while Joshua was the holder of the WBA, IBF, and WBO belts, but a unification fight between them never took place. Wilder suffered a defeat to Tyson Fury, and Joshua lost his titles to Oleksandr Usyk. Usyk went on to claim the unified championship after defeating Fury in May 2024.
Joshua’s last fight took place in December, where he secured a knockout victory against Jake Paul. However, shortly after, he was hospitalized following a car accident in Nigeria, which tragically claimed the lives of two of his friends. Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, who witnessed the interaction between the two fighters, assured that a fight with Wilder would not pose any issues for Joshua.
“He said, let’s do it. AJ looked at him with an icy stare, but he would definitely fight him,” Hearn commented to Fight Hub TV.
Meanwhile, Chisora, reflecting on his defeat to Wilder, acknowledged that it might be time for him to retire from boxing. In the 50th and final fight of his colorful career, Chisora (36-14, 23 KOs) delivered one of his most commendable performances, having fought back from a knockdown in the eighth round to go the distance with Wilder (45-4-1, 43 KOs).
Though disappointed by the judges’ decision, which scored the fight 115-111, 112-115, and 115-113 in favor of Wilder, the 42-year-old Chisora embraced the experience in London. He made light-hearted jokes with his wife Emily about potentially fighting again, but ultimately accepted that it might be time to retire.
“It was a great fight. I need to go home and discuss it with the boss, and it is what it is,” Chisora reflected alongside his son Zion. “Honestly, I’m tired now. I know when it’s time to stop, and that time has come. I’ve had a fantastic career, and it’s been incredible.”
Chisora turned professional in 2007, and his career has included memorable moments, such as spitting water at Wladimir Klitschko during his first of two title fights, a brawl with rival-turned-promoter David Haye, and even flipping a table during a press conference. Despite hinting at retirement, he suggested he may remain involved in boxing in some capacity.
“I’m saying it’s not over. I didn’t say I would fight again, but I might pursue something else in boxing,” Chisora noted. “What that might be, I’m not sure. Honestly, I don’t know.”
