Five fights for Deontay Wilder as the ‘Bronze Bomber’ picks up first win since 2022

Deontay Wilder returned to boxing in familiar fashion when he was able to earn a TKO win over Tyrrell Herndon on Friday night.

The ‘Bronze Bomber’ stopped his 24-5 opponent in the seventh round of their fight, after scoring a knockdown in the second round.

The win was the heavyweight’s first since 2022, when Wilder beat Robert Helenius.

Wilder now has a professional record of 44-4-1 after the win, with plenty of options for future opponents. With this in mind, here is our list of some potential fights for the former heavyweight champion.

Anthony Joshua

A fight between Wilder and Anthony Joshua is one that fans have been asking for over the last number of years. Although the opportunity has passed for the two heavyweights to compete in their prime, the interest is still there.

Both men are at an interesting point in their career, as Wilder is 2-3 in his last five, and Joshua is coming off a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois.

Joshua is expected to fight again this year, however, it is unclear if that fight will be against Wilder. However, even if ‘AJ’ faces an alternative opponent, the pair could meet in a huge 2026 headliner.

Derek Chisora

Another notable British heavyweight that Wilder could take on is Derek Chisora.

Chisora, who is one of Oleksandr Usyk’s toughest fights, would be a durable test for Wilder, even in the twilight of his career. By facing ‘Del Boy’, fans could really see how much Wilder has left in the tank.

If Wilder was able to stop the 49-fight veteran, it would show he is still a heavyweight contender. However, a win for Chisora in what would potentially be his final fight could be a great way to bow out.

Moses Itauma

One way you could handle Wilder’s current situation is to put him in with the future knockout star of the heavyweight division, Moses Itauma.

Scheduled to take on Dillian Whyte in August, a win for Itauma would put him on the brink of a world title opportunity. If he is not given a crack at a belt following a win over Whyte, Wilder is a fantastic name he could add to his resume in a passing of the torch moment.

Wilder and Itauma have a 97% and 83% knockout rate, respectively, meaning a heavyweight showdown between the veteran and the prospect would be fireworks.

Martin Bakole

Another heavyweight who is in a less-favorable position in their career is Martin Bakole.

A short-notice appearance in Saudi Arabia in February saw Bakole get knocked out by Joseph Parker. Then, Bakole followed up the loss with a draw against Efe Ajagba.

Since his momentum was halted against Parker, fans do not perceive Bakole as the heavyweight threat as they once did. However, being the victor of a shootout with Wilder could change that opinion.

A win for Wilder over Bakole would also be an impressive feat, as the Congolese fighter is still considered a top name in the division.

Curtis Harper

When Wilder took on Herndon, he was taking a step back in competition from the likes of Parker and Zhilei Zhang. For his next fight, there’s no reason why he can’t take another fight of this standard.

Wilder was rumoured to face Curtis Harper (19-11) earlier this year, in a fight the former champion was expected to win. However, getting in the ring with Harper could give Wilder more confidence going into a potential bout with Joshua in 2026.

Even if Harper is not the opponent of choice, it is possible that Wilder goes down the route of a lesser-known name as opposed to heavyweight contender. Such a move could be a step in the right direction for the 39-year-old to further fuel his form.