Anthony Joshua Plots Wilder Showdown Before Fury Mega-Fight

Anthony Joshua is preparing for a dramatic return to the ring just months after surviving a car crash in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two of his friends.

According to promoter Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s comeback could feature two blockbuster bouts against fellow former heavyweight champions Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury.

Speaking in Brooklyn, Hearn revealed that Joshua is eyeing Wilder as a warmup opponent before finally meeting Fury in what would be Britain’s biggest heavyweight clash since Lennox Lewis defeated Frank Bruno in 1993.

‘The AJ-Fury fight is one that we all need, especially the Brits,’ Hearn told the Daily Mail. ‘Wilder would be a real nice warmup fight for AJ before Tyson Fury.’

Joshua, who suffered minor injuries in the December 29 crash near Sagamu, Ogun State, has shown renewed commitment to boxing by attending recent fight cards, including Wilder’s split-decision win over Derek Chisora in London.

‘AJ’s ready for all the smoke,’ Hearn insisted. ‘He wants all the smoke. So for us, we’ll have the warmup fight against Wilder, and then we’ll fight Tyson Fury, and we’re ready to sign for both.’

Wilder, now 40, is equally eager to finally face Joshua after years of missed opportunities.
‘Let’s do it,’ he told Joshua ringside. Fury, however, is pushing for the fight to happen immediately, warning that heavyweight boxing is too unpredictable to risk delays.
‘I think we should get this fight on as soon as possible, in case something happens in between,’ Fury said.

Joshua’s career has seen its share of setbacks, most notably his shocking 2019 loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. at Madison Square Garden. Although he avenged that defeat later in Saudi Arabia, his trajectory has never fully recovered.