Anthony Joshua just defeated Jermaine Franklin by unanimous decision to regain momentum in his heavyweight career. He is currently in negotiations for a mega-fight against “The Bronze Bomber” in December. After talks to have the pair square off in the ring as champions in 2018 broke down, the match is now finally going to happen.
Before facing Wilder, Joshua is anticipated to first face Dillian Whyte in a probable all-British rematch this summer. Given Wilder’s superior punching ability, which has allowed him to defeat all but Tyson Fury of his opponents, Joshua may enter the fight as the underdog.
And former undisputed champion Lewis has suggested he believes Wilder will have too much for the Briton due to his punching power. “Joshua against Wilder? Definitely Wilder,” Lewis said in an interview with ES News. “Wilder’s got that thing in him where he wants to hurt you and I’ve seen it every time he throws that right hand, he’s trying to damage you with that right hand. He’s throws it with intention.”
Joshua has linked up with new trainer Derrick James and successfully outboxed Franklin in his comeback fight earlier this year. However he came into fresh criticism for his more cautious approach despite largely dominating the rounds and coming out of the test unscathed.
Wilder would pose a far sterner test and it could well be just the second appearance under James’ stewardship for Joshua. In a fresh update on talks, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has suggested both camps are on board with the Middle East’s approach and terms are now being finalised.
‘They want to make that night, they want to do Joshua vs Wilder and Fury vs Usyk,’ Hearn told Matchroom Boxing. “I think Usyk conversations, the Wilder conversations have gone very well. For us, we are in. We need to finalise terms but we said to Prince Khalid [bin Salman Al Saud] that is the fight we want.
‘We know having worked with them before we can get a deal done and really, what we are looking to do this week and next, is look at that situation and decide if there will be a fight in early August for Anthony Joshua before then. I would like him to, I think [Joshua’s trainer] Derrick James would like him to and I think AJ would but we have to see how those talks with Deontay Wilder evolve.
“We just made it clear to them, our message was AJ is ready for all those fights, he is happy to agree the Deontay Wilder fight for December and we will now see if we can close terms in the next couple of weeks.”