Deontay Wilder isn’t interested in waiting much longer for the heavyweight showdown that should have happened years ago. Following Anthony Joshua’s impressive knockout of Jake Paul on December 19, 2025 in Miami, the former WBC champion confirmed he is ready to finally face the two-time unified titleholder in 2026.
Deontay Wilder’s next fight
“Almost certainly. Without a doubt. I’m a fighter,” Wilder said Boxing scene when asked if he wanted to pursue Joshua. “He’s a fighter. I’m still active. He’s still active. And that’s one of the biggest fights that people still want to see. As long as we’re still in this business, we need to meet.”
The fight between these two heavyweights Titans should have happened when they both had world titles, but circumstances and bad timing kept them apart for over a decade. Joshua’s victory over Paul, which included two knockdowns in the fifth round and a breathtaking knockout in the sixth, has reignited the discussion about this highly anticipated clash. Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, has already laid out plans for his fighter’s 2026 schedule: a tune-up fight in February, followed by a fight with Tyson Fury in the fall.
Wilder’s path seems less certain. The Alabama native is rebuilding after going 2-4 in his last six fights, although his stoppage of Tyrrell Herndon in June 2025 provided a much-needed win.
He is also in negotiations with other heavyweight options. Earlier this year, Wilder confirmed that talks with Francis Ngannou were ‘heating up’. Speaking to Ariel Helwani in September, Wilder said the MMA-to-boxing crossover represents genuine interest on both sides. “There have been conversations before, back and forth, but right now it’s heating up. Things are heating up,” Wilder explained. “He sent the message and I responded. I recognized that I am serious, willing, ready and able to take on this fight.”
However, Wilder’s longtime advisor Shelly Finkel made it clear that Ngannou is not the priority for 2025. However, the fight is feasible for 2026, when Wilder plans to have “a big fight” with Joshua or champion Oleksandr Usyk. This leaves the Ngannou showdown as a secondary option, impressive on paper but ultimately dependent on what happens in each fighter’s next steps.
For Wilder, the Joshua fight has a more immediate appeal. Both men remain in their career windows and the story writes itself: two former champions finally settle a debate that has lingered since their rise to prominence. Whether the business side can match boxing fans’ appetite for fighting remains the only remaining question.
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