With his return to boxing now wholly up in the air, Anthony Joshua has been urged to switch focus and secure a long-overdue showdown.
A former two-time heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, had been linked tirelessly with a showdown against polarizing boxing upstart Jake Paul over the past several of weeks.
However, Paul is now set to switch focus, booking an exhibition fight against Gervonta Davis later this year in his return to the ring.
And with his fight with Paul now on the back burner for the time being at least, fans have called for Joshua to finally share the ring with a fellow ex-champion.
Anthony Joshua urged to fight Deontay Wilder in boxing return
Forever linked with a clash against former undisputed WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, off the back of Paul’s booking with Davis, fans are now eager to see Joshua share the ring with the ferocious knockout artist.
Failing to ever share the ring together during their primes as heavyweight champions, Joshua has now been urged by fans to finally settle his grudge with Wilder — as the duo look to regain some form at the heavyweight limit.
One such fan claimed it was “better late than never” for Joshua to fight Wilder, with the pair both on the receiving end of brutal knockout losses recently.
A second user also suggested he finally take on another former WBC titleholder in the form of Tyson Fury — suggesting Wilder would be a much easier fight for Joshua, writing, “Fury or Wilder. Wilder if he wants a light touch.”
In the same reply, a third user claimed Joshua would not have his own way against Wilder, given his hellacious knockout power, posting, “Wilder would absolutely destroy AJ. AJ is made for him: slow.. weak chin.. wouldn’t get past 5 rounds.”
With action likely limited at this stage of his career, a fourth fan claimed Joshua would be wise to cash in on a lucrative fight with Wilder next, writing, “Wilder, let’s get it out of the way, it’s the biggest fight for him to make besides Fury.”
Finally, another user claimed Joshua should finally settle his differences with Andy Ruiz Jr. in a rubber match — against the first man to beat him professionally, writing, “It’s now or never for a Wilder fight. But aside from that, I’d like to see him fight a rubber match with Andy Ruiz.”
Anthony Joshua offered Tyson Fury showdown in 2026
And while the majority of fans are hopeful of finally seeing Joshua share the ring with Wilder, a certain promoter is not giving up hope on booking the Watford native against long-time rival Fury.
Namely, Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn revealed his wish list of potential fights for next year, claiming that if he could book just one single bout, it would be an overdue clash between Joshua and Fury.
Joshua has of course been on a collision course with Fury for years at this stage, with the Morecambe native even ripping the Olympian’s proposed fight with Paul recently.