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Carl Froch Delivers Honest Verdict On Deontay Wilder vs Anthony Joshua: “His Legs Have Gone”

Carl Froch has spoken about the potential heavyweight clash between two former heavyweight world champions, Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder.

Both of these big men are huge punchers who have knocked out a combined 68 opponents out of the 81 men they have faced.

However, when Joshua last fought back in September 2024, it was he who was stopped by then IBF champion Daniel Dubois, having rebuilt well following back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk that left him without any belts in 2022.

Wilder suffered defeat twice to Tyson Fury out of the three times they fought, and then went on to lose to Zhilei Zhang and Joseph Parker. He got back to winning ways back in June when he beat Tyrell Herndon and is now making one last push for world honours.

Joshua is also set to return following an elbow injury and is looking to get back into world title contention, potentially against someone like Martin Bakole who he has been linked with, though a fight with Wilder could also make sense.

Someone who has been extremely vocal about Joshua and Wilder over the years is former super-middleweight king Froch, who has again weighed in with a breakdown on how the bout may go.

Speaking on his own YouTube Channel, Froch admitted that he thinks that the fight is now well past its sell-by date.

“I’m not interested in seeing Wilder fighting again from what I’ve seen. His punching power seems to be gone, his legs seem to be gone as well, when he gets clipped he struggles. I just don’t see why these fighters need to carry on and destroy their legacy and ruin it. That’s AJ and Wilder. I don’t think these fighters should be fighting anymore.”

Eddie Hearn revealed this week that Joshua’s return will be a carefully chosen one before bigger fights in 2026, meaning his next fight is unlikely to be against Wilder.

Former WBC heavyweight titleholder Deontay Wilder has said Francis Ngannou is in his sights, though Ngannou might not necessarily be next.

Wilder, a 39-year-old from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, improved to 44-4-1 (43 KOs) with a seventh-round stoppage of Tyrell Anthony Herndon in Wichita, Kansas, in June. He told “The Ariel Helwani Show” that he would fight again this year, possibly twice, and that he was open to fights with Ngannou and Anthony Joshua.

“It felt amazing,” he said of his return earlier this year. “It felt wonderful to get that hand raised. I’ve been dealing with a lot the last four-and-a-half years, especially when you’re dealing with betrayal.”

Wilder had been talking cryptically about people inside his camp abusing his trust, and he said that caused him to lose focus and “switch off when the bell rang” in his fights.

He suffered consecutive defeats to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang in 2023 and 2024 and was out for a year before the Herndon fight.

“Sometimes you have to look at losses as a blessing in disguise,” said Wilder. “I have the power to change my future and the power to change what is not going right in my life. … In the time that we have in this life, you can make a stand. And I made a stand. … I had to take a wellness check, get myself right, get myself together and here I am.”

Wilder then said he had around another decade of boxing ahead of him, partly because he started at just 21.

Deontay Wilder’s fiancée receives temporary restraining order over domestic violence allegations, per reports

Telli Swift, the fiancée of Deontay Wilder, was granted a temporary restraining order against the former heavyweight champion boxer due to a litany of domestic violence allegations, according to TMZ and USA Today.

Swift reportedly applied for the TRO in Los Angeles last week and was granted it by a judge on Monday. The order requires Wilder to stay at least 100 yards away from Swift and their daughter and will remain in effect until June 25, when the two parties are scheduled to appear before a judge.

In the application, Swift — who has been in a relationship with Wilder since 2015 and got engaged to him in 2018 — reportedly accuses Wilder of choking her at least five times since 2018, once in front of their daughter and her son, and slamming her son’s head against a car.

She also reportedly claims Wilder took her laptop without her consent and sent disturbing messages to her contacts, used their home surveillance system to spy on her and threw her out of their Atlanta residence in April despite her having recently undergone invasive surgery. That’s in addition to allegedly ridiculing her constantly, threatening to destroy her belongings and expecting intercourse “three times a day.”

Swift was apparently frightened that Wilder could become violent when he returned home after his fight in Saudi Arabia last Saturday. Via TMZ:

“I believe Deontay is capable of being physically violent towards me upon his return in June because he has expressed that he is furious with me since April and has been physically abusive with me in the past,” she said.

She also believes his mental health has deteriorated alongside his career since his losses to Tyson Fury, via USA Today:

“At that point, he struggled to get fights that could advance his career and he was emotionally unstable,’’ Swift said in the request for a restraining order. “He would cry and yell often in our home.’’

Since losing to Joseph Parker in December, Swift said, “Deontay has been more emotionally abusive to me than anytime in the past. I have been suffering in silence despite Deontay becoming increasingly aggressive and controlling, because I did not want him to experience any further mental health struggles.’’

It’s worth noting that the process to obtain a temporary restraining order in California essentially consists of one party filing a statement about why they think the other is a threat and a judge granting it based on what the filer claims. The subject of the temporary restraining order, in this case Wilder, does not need to be present for the initial filing, only for the subsequent court date in which he may argue his case.

This isn’t the first time Wilder has been accused of domestic violence, as he was also arrested on strangulation charges in Las Vegas in 2013.

Deontay Wilder
Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury during the WBC Heavyweight Championship bout at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday December 1, 2018. See PA story BOXING Los Angeles. Photo credit should read: Lionel Hahn/PA Wire

 

Deontay Wilder’s career hit rock bottom last weekend

The restraining order was granted two days after Wilder’s loss to Zhilei Zhang in the Queensberry vs Matchroom 5v5, which left the heavyweight at a dire point in his career.

Once an undefeated WBC heavyweight champion and one of the sport’s most popular boxers thanks to his elite punching power, Wilder lost his belt to Fury in 2020 and has now lost four of his last five bouts. The Zhang fight represented a chance for Wilder to remain in the elite ranks of the heavyweight divisions.

Instead, Wilder looked slow and tentative all the way up to the fifth round, when Zhang caught him after an awkward spin and left him flat on the ground. Many watching, including Wilder’s mother, believed it could be the final fight of Wilder’s career.

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.

Deontay Wilder got back into the win column Friday with a seventh-round stoppage win in a tune-up fight against Tyrrell Herndon.
Following the victory, just the second in six fights since 2020 for the embattled former heavyweight champion, Wilder (44-4-1, 43 KOs) emphasized he’s not diverging from the plan he came in with, outlined by two more tuneups in 2025 before a big one in 2026.
“It felt really good and it was a blessing to get back in there and get the rust off,” Wilder told The Ring from his dressing room after the fight at Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas.
“I’m satisfied with the performance, but I’m also not satisfied because there is more to come. I wanted him to throw a little bit more but I appreciate Herndon for dedicating himself. I wanted to work on some countering with the overhand right hand. I don’t think he was expecting me to throw the hooks that I was throwing. I wanted to display more than just a right hand.”
Wilder rebounded from back-to-back losses to Joseph Parker in 2023 and Zhilei Zhang last June to drop the outmatched Herndon in the second and sixth before ending matters during the seventh in a main event fight staged by Global Combat Collective and BLK Prime.
“A lot of people don’t understand how severe my shoulder injury was, or what I have been through, and they’ll never understand,” said Wilder. “They don’t want to hear any excuses from the fighters. I did the best that I could do to cover it up in my last several fights.
“My shoulder was at like 20 percent. But I’m a fighter and a warrior. I had to do my thing. Now that it’s all recovered and healed, I’m able to hold my hand up. I wanted to make sure I got some rounds in, and not be predictable with the right hand.”
Wilder turns 40 in September and still has aspirations to become a champion now that he’s also overcome mental health issues. He said he’s planning for another fight in September, with South Korea being discussed as a possible location, and a December bout at a location to be determined.
“We’re going with the plan that we have,” Wilder said. “I definitely need a couple of more tuneups. There is a lot more work to be done so I can really feel satisfied and feel that I have truly returned.”
Wilder wants the meaningful matchup in 2026 to be against former two-time unified divisional champion Anthony Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs), a fight more than seven years in the making.
“It could be against Joshua,” said Wilder. “If the fight was set up, we’ll be ready to go down those roads. A lot of money is on the line, but sometimes it’s not about the money because we have to make sure things are right. We’re in the hurt business.
“When we’re ready, everyone will know. … We’re just going to take it one fight, and one step at a time. But I have returned, just stay patient with me. I’m back, baby. I’m headed right back to the gym once I get home.”
Wilder’s manager Shelly Finkel said that he’s already received calls within hours of the win inquiring on the former WBC titleholder’s availability.
“It’s not an issue of opponents for us,” said Finkel. “If you look around the landscape, there are not many big heavyweight fights that you want to make. There are a few. Deontay can figure into any of them … We don’t want to fight for the sake of a payday. We want to fight, win [titles], and defend it once he wins like he did before. I hope that the things that have derailed him have made him stronger, and now, he’s going to show it.”

Deontay Wilder vs Tyrrell Herndon LIVE RESULTS: Bronze Bomber’s big comeback ahead of potential Anthony Joshua fight

DEONTAY Wilder makes his boxing return TONIGHT as he goes head-to-head with Tyrrell Herndon!

The Bronze Bomber has been out of action since his knockout defeat to Zhilei Zhang last June.

Big Bang’s brutal KO handed Wilder his fourth loss in his last five fights, with his only win coming against journeyman Robert Helenius almost three years ago.

The former WBC heavyweight champion begins his bid to rebuild his reputation against Herndon, who is out to secure the biggest win of his career.

A win for Wilder could see him move back into the fold for a big-name fight, with many boxing fans still keen to see the long-overdue Anthony Joshua bout.

  • Card start time: 2am BST / 9pm ET
  • Main event time: 4am BST / 11pm ET (approx)
  • Live stream: BLK Prime PPV

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The fight everyone wants to see

With such similar attributes and physique, many want to see Deontay Wilder face Anthony Joshua next.

While rumours still circulate of the return of Tyson Fury for that huge ‘Battle of Britain’ clash, it is a fight that the Wilder camp could lock down before anything is agreed.

The location would be key, no doubt both boxers would want to stage it in their own country, in front of their own fans.

  • Confidence key for Bronze Bomber

    The two defeats suffered by Wilder before his taking time out of the ring really seemed to affect the mentality of the boxer.

    Always such a confident person in his abilities, it almost seemed as though he had begun to doubt the words coming out of his mouth.

    Getting back into the ring and getting a win under his belt will add some positivity to his camp that he still has plenty to offer in this division.

Deontay Wilder has ‘hope’ for Anthony Joshua showdown but won’t believe in the fight until one thing happens

Deontay Wilder wants to face Anthony Joshua in a huge heavyweight clash, but he won’t believe the bout until he sees it for himself.

Tyrrell Herndon will battle Deontay Wilder as he makes his comeback fight, although the former world champion already has his eye on a fight with Anthony Joshua.

Joshua has reportedly agreed to face Tyson Fury at Wembley Stadium in one of the biggest fights on British soil in history.

However, Wilder still has hope of taking on the Olympic Gold Medallist once he’s done with Herndon, although he has his doubts about the fight taking place.

Deontay Wilder has hope for the Anthony Joshua fight, but doesn’t believe it until it happens

Wilder has admitted that he has “hope” of facing off with former World Heavyweight champion Joshua, but he won’t believe it until it actually happens.

He spoke with Boxing News and admitted that “there’s always going to be hope” about the heavyweight clash.

However, until he’s stood in the ring and the bell rings, Wilder won’t believe any talk about the potential super fight.

Wilder said: “I’m in. I’m a fighter, he’s a fighter. As long as he’s in the division, I’m in the division, then you know, there’s always going to be hope.

Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua

“There’s always going to be a discussion. I would say hope as well, but definitely a lingering conversation around it.

“But at this point, I don’t get excited about hearing it no more like I used to. Because I know the truth. I know the truth behind what’s been covered up.

“They always say the truth will set you free—and I’m free. I’m free from it. I don’t get excited about this talk anymore like a lot of people would or still do now, because they don’t know the real situation behind it.

“I’m not putting no energy into it anymore. Not unless we’re at the press conference, or better yet, in the ring, the bell’s about to ding. That’s when I believe it.”

Deontay Wilder will need to get past Tyrrell Herndon before a potential fight with Anthony Joshua

While there could be huge interest in a Wilder vs. Joshua fight, he’ll need to beat Herndon in his next bout to keep that idea alive.

Wilder has lost four of his last five fights, a far cry from his time as the undefeated world champion.

The knockout artist lost in a shock knockout to Zhilei Zhang, which followed Wilder’s back-to-back defeats against Tyson Fury to derail the American’s career.

A loss to Herndon should put a dent in his hopes of facing Joshua, who will want a much bigger fight than Wilder should his bad form continue.

Wilder is predicted to easily beat Herndon when they face off on June 27.

The year was 2018, and Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder were undefeated and ruled the heavyweight division by owning all of the titles and were en route to face off for an undisputed championship fight.
After Wilder fought to a draw in December 2018 against Tyson Fury, the plan was for him to move on to face Joshua. In March 2019, DAZN offered Wilder $100 million for a three-fight package, including two vs. Joshua, but he declined the deal, citing dishonesty.
Joshua moved on to fight Andy Ruiz Jr. and suffered a shocking stoppage loss and hasn’t been able to properly find his footing since, going 6-4 in the last six years. Wilder moved on to face Fury two more times and lost both by knockout, and he’s 1-4 in the last six years.
And now, Wilder, who turns 40 on Oct. 22, and Joshua, who turns 36 seven days prior, are looking to reignite a rivalry that has seen its share of false starts throughout the years.
Wilder (43-4-1, 42 KOs) returns Friday to face Tyrrell Herndon (24-5, 15 KOs) at Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas. The Global Combat Collective PPV event will be distributed by BLK Prime, Fubo, and PPV.com, among others, for $24.95.
Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs), meanwhile, is recovering from elbow surgery and plans to return later this year for his first fight since getting stopped in five rounds by Daniel Dubois in September. He, too, needs a bounce-back win.
“If that fight against Joshua comes, and everything is right, why not?” Wilder told The Ring. “We’ll deal with the situation when it happens. He’s still in the business, and I am as well. I want all of [them]. I am not going after just one particular person. If it’s a great fight to be made, I am there. I want to make the best fights people want to see.
“But I am not going to be around with picket signs asking for the fight. I am not going to do that. I never chased anyone. If people didn’t want to fight me, it was what it was. … I always wanted the biggest fights possible in my career.”
Wilder and Joshua were supposed to face off last year, but the former wasn’t able to beat Joseph Parker as the co-main event. Joshua gained a stoppage win against Otto Wallin in December 2023 in Saudi Arabia.
Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder
The decision defeat was a setback for Wilder, forcing him to seek a meaningful win against Zhilei Zhang. The result was even worse this time, and Wilder was zapped in five rounds last June.
It seems like a lifetime ago that Wilder was wreaking havoc in the division as an underweight knockout artist. Wilder enjoyed a WBC title run beginning in 2015 when he beat Bermane Stiverne and defended the title 10 times before meeting his match in Fury.
After overcoming mental health issues, Wilder wants to make one last run and face contemporaries he never got to clash with, including Oleksandr Usyk.
“I want the biggest fights possible,” said Wilder. “I don’t care about who the individual is. I’m not dwelling on these guys. These guys wouldn’t give me an opportunity to save their lives because they were stuck on not losing. I just wanted to be undisputed, but many people did not have me on their agenda because of how dangerous I am. That’s OK. That’s why I am still here pursuing myself and going on to do even greater things. This time it will be even more powerful.”

Deontay Wilder to have two comeback fights before eying double header with Anthony Joshua in London and Las Vegas

DEONTAY WILDER is set for two confidence-building comeback fights – before eyeing a double header with Anthony Joshua.

The former WBC champion returns on Saturday in Kansas against little-known Tyrrell Herndon looking to bounce back after two losses.

Nelson Lopez Jr – a former matchmaker for the likes of Oscar de la Hoya and PBC – is promoting Wilder’s low-profile return.

A three-fight deal is in place between the pair – with Wilder’s second comeback fight already pencilled in – before they target a showdown with AJ.

Lopez told SunSport: “Yeah listen, we got a tentative deal and we’re just going one by one.

“We have the next one set up, this one set up, nothing solid for the third one – you know how boxing is, there’s no path of how you succeed.

“We have to get over this, so anything can happen. We got to get over the next one. Anything can happen.

“And then, you know maybe Eddie will sit at the table and see what we can do something with AJ.”

Wilder was stunned on points against Joseph Parker in December 2024 before he was knocked out in June 2024 by Zhilei Zhang.

Both times he blew the chance to fight 35-year-old Joshua – who was knocked out by Daniel Dubois in September and has since had elbow surgery.

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Promoter Nelson has opened the door to a two-fight with with AJ – in Las Vegas and London – with the possibility of a trilogy.

He said: “Maybe we go ahead and lock in a trilogy. You know what I mean, why not?

“For both fighters maybe we lock in something we can do guaranteed two fights and if one wins and one wins, we do the third.

“I would do it that way. I don’t think the fans would be mad at that.

“I think either way it would have be amazing fight for both of them and whoever wins the first two then you’re crowned the man.”

Wilder, 39, went through a period of radio silence after his fifth-round stoppage loss to Zhang in Riyadh.

He cited personal issues for his absence from the spotlight – and also had secret arm surgery with plans to return to the big time.

Lopez said: “Yeah, he’s definitely up for these fights.

“Our in Kansas slated “Legacy Reloaded” so the first two fights are just leading towards that.”

Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder are both nearing the end of their careers.

For many years, both of these heavyweights dominated the division. Joshua unifyed the WBO, WBA and IBF belts with impressive wins over the likes of Parker, Wladimir Klitschko, Carlos Takam, Alexander Povetkin and Andy Ruiz in a rematch, having lost the first time around in his US debut.

It was Oleksandr Usyk who then dethroned the Brit in 2021 and beat him again in their rematch a year later. Though ‘AJ’ rebuilt, he was stopped by Daniel Dubois in September 2024 while attempting to become a three-time world champion.

Meanwhile, Wilder was stateside with the WBC title and knocking out every man he faced until he came unstuck twice to Tyson Fury. He went on to lose two more fights against Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang, which has led him to take a full year away from the sport and for many in the game to call him to retire.

Speaking to BoxNation, Joshua was recently asked if he thought ‘The Bronze Bomber’ should hang up his gloves for good.

It was Oleksandr Usyk who then dethroned the Brit in 2021 and beat him again in their rematch a year later. Though ‘AJ’ rebuilt, he was stopped by Daniel Dubois in September 2024 while attempting to become a three-time world champion.

Meanwhile, Wilder was stateside with the WBC title and knocking out every man he faced until he came unstuck twice to Tyson Fury. He went on to lose two more fights against Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang, which has led him to take a full year away from the sport and for many in the game to call him to retire.

Speaking to BoxNation, Joshua was recently asked if he thought ‘The Bronze Bomber’ should hang up his gloves for good.