Today is April 24, 2026, and after eight hard years of attempts, Deontay Wilder vs Anthony Joshua is off the table for good, ending one of boxing’s longest-running failed negotiations.
Final window closes
Both sides had one clear window of opportunity to get the job done, and promoter Eddie Hearn has now closed that firmly shut. The Matchroom boss outlined the level of opponent being targeted for Joshua’s next fight, and it won’t excite those still hoping for Wilder.
Hearn had initially labeled Wilder a “warm-up” for Joshua after ‘The Bronze Bomber’ dispatched Derek Chisora on points. However, less than a couple of weeks later, that stance appears to have evaporated.
Now, instead, Joshua is likely to be pitted against lower-level opposition outside the top fifteen to shake off ring rust. Whether those instructions come directly from Saudi Arabia or not remains unclear, but the former two-time heavyweight champion is not expected to head into a potential Tyson Fury clash this fall on the back of beating up a YouTuber over five one-sided rounds.
Fury path takes priority
Joshua, who recorded wins over the likes of Otto Wallin and Jermaine Franklin before suffering a devastating stoppage loss to Daniel Dubois, is now in advanced talks with Fury following his Saturday night appearance after ‘The Gypsy King’ defeated Arslanbek Makhmudov.
Once negotiations are finalized and the fight is secured, UK fans can look forward to the most significant heavyweight battle on the British Isles since Frank Bruno vs Lennox Lewis.
To get there, Joshua must come through an interim bout, and that means taking no chances against Wilder, despite the American’s diminishing powers.
Wilder will now be forced to move on, and based on his current form, may struggle to stay relevant by the time any Fury series is completed.
Joshua vs Fury could stretch to two or even three fights, while Wilder turns 41 in October, placing him firmly on the wrong side of the age divide.
How it all began
Attention for the former WBC ruler could instead turn to Andy Ruiz Jr., who, as WBN reported exclusively in 2020, was once lined up for a massive pay-per-view clash with Wilder following the Fury trilogy.
It never materialized, but it remains one of the few realistic options left that still carries genuine intrigue.
The plan began with a Shelly Finkel phone call to WBN in June 2018. It will end with a whimper as Joshua and Hearn handpick their next move before the Fury fight.
How it ended
Eight years on, it only came close to mattering once in 2023, and even then, the Day of Reckoning plan imploded.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a veteran boxing reporter with 15+ years of experience. He has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside since 2010. Read full bio.