Eddie Hearn Officially Contacts Team Wilder for Epic Fight with Joshua
The heavyweight division could soon witness the clash fans have been demanding for years, as Eddie Hearn has made the first move to rekindle talks for a colossal bout between Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder. Anthony Joshua, who has recently returned to training after undergoing elbow surgery, is targeting a fall comeback. The British star has been vocal about his ambitions to “take the division by storm”, signaling his hunger to reclaim his spot at the top of the heavyweight landscape. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, Deontay Wilder has re-entered the fray, shaking off ring rust with a seventh-round stoppage victory over Tyrrell Herndon in Kansas. Although far from his explosive best, Wilder’s win has put his name back into the conversation for big-money fights.
An Opportunity Finally Emerging?
Joshua and Wilder were once the dominant forces in the heavyweight division, both holding world titles and undefeated records. A unification bout between them was widely regarded as one of the biggest fights of their era, yet politics, negotiations, and timing conspired to keep them apart. Now, with both men in their 30s and the end of their careers drawing closer, the stars may finally be aligning. Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s long-time promoter, confirmed to The Ring that he has opened discussions with Wilder’s camp, specifically his manager Shelly Finkel, about the possibility of making the fight. “I think it’s always going to be a big fight because it’s exciting, enticing and dangerous,” Hearn explained. “The fans still want to see it. They’re two of the biggest punchers in the heavyweight division, and it’s got that knockout danger that makes it a can’t-miss event.”
Numbers That Still Carry Weight
Despite their recent setbacks, both fighters remain serious contenders. Anthony Joshua, 35, boasts a professional record of 28 wins (25 by knockout) and 4 losses, and is currently ranked No. 5 by The Ring. Deontay Wilder, now 39, holds a record of 44 wins (43 knockouts), 4 losses, and 1 draw, though he has dropped out of The Ring’s top 10 rankings. Their reputations as knockout artists still make this one of the most anticipated matchups in the sport.
Hearn and Finkel Break the Ice
Interestingly, Hearn’s conversation with Shelly Finkel didn’t initially revolve around Joshua. Instead, the discussion was sparked by the possibility of Wilder facing British heavyweight Dave Allen, another fighter in Hearn’s stable. “I spoke to Shelly Finkel because we were talking about a potential fight with Dave Allen,” Hearn revealed. “But we will see what’s next. Wilder seems to have a little plan of wanting to stay quite active and I think that’s a good thing for him. Maybe that’s a fight [with Joshua] that can materialise.”
Will This Time Be Different?
For years, Joshua vs. Wilder was the fight that got away. Negotiations broke down repeatedly during their primes, with both sides blaming each other. Now, with less at stake in terms of unification and more at stake in terms of legacy, the bout could be easier to make. Both fighters are looking to rebuild their legacies after tough losses. Joshua fell twice to Oleksandr Usyk and suffered earlier upsets to Andy Ruiz Jr., while Wilder’s trilogy against Tyson Fury ended in two defeats and a draw, putting a dent in his previously fearsome aura. Yet, in boxing, redemption is never far away.
A Clash of Styles, Still Explosive
Stylistically, this fight still thrills fans: Joshua’s disciplined jab, combination punching, and calculated power. Wilder’s wild-card right hand, capable of ending a fight in a split second. The question remains whether Joshua’s fundamental approach can withstand Wilder’s raw explosiveness, or if Wilder can find a way through Joshua’s technical arsenal before running into trouble himself.
What’s Next?
With Tyson Fury potentially tied up in another bout with Usyk, and other heavyweights like Filip Hrgovic, Zhang Zhilei, and Joe Joyce making moves in the division, the heavyweight landscape is shifting fast. Joshua vs. Wilder may not crown the undisputed king anymore, but it could still be one of the most lucrative and explosive matchups in boxing today. If talks progress, fans could finally get the showdown they’ve been dreaming about—albeit a few years later than they hoped. All eyes are now on Hearn, Finkel, and the fighters themselves to seize the moment before it slips away once again.
