Deontay Wilder frozen out as Anthony Joshua eyes Fury

Eddie Hearn confirms summer return points away from Wilder as Riyadh plan centers on Fury showdown

Anthony Joshua is being steered toward a summer return that builds into a Tyson Fury fight, leaving Deontay Wilder on the outside. The shift delays a long-discussed matchup and keeps Joshua’s title path tied to a Riyadh-backed plan.

Wilder called for the fight after edging Derek Chisora by split decision earlier this month in London. It was an important win for the former WBC heavyweight champion, who had entered the bout with losses in two of his previous three contests and questions over how much he had left.

Instead of Wilder, Joshua now appears to be moving toward a comeback bout this summer that would lead into a Tyson Fury showdown later in the year.

“If we were promoting the event, that’s exactly what I’d be doing, making the Wilder fight,” said Hearn to talkSport boxing. “But this is a deal put to us with Fury against AJ as the mountain top of that deal.”

Based on the latest from Hearn, the Joshua lottery is being run by a very specific set of rules right now, and they don’t seem to favor the Bronze Bomber.

The roadblock isn’t just about standard promotional issues anymore. Hearn has been quite open about the fact that Turki Alalshikh and the Riyadh Season team have a specific vision for 2026. They want the Joshua vs. Fury fight.

One right hand from Wilder could end the Fury-Joshua plans instantly, and it seems the Saudis aren’t willing to take that gamble for Joshua’s July return.

Interestingly, Hearn mentioned that Joshua himself is actually game for the challenge.

“AJ has told me that he will fight Wilder and Fury back-to-back. We have no problem fighting Wilder.”

However, the current deal on the table for July and November doesn’t include Wilder. Joshua is still working his way back to 100% after his car accident in Nigeria and his recent victory over Jake Paul, so the preference from his team and the investors is a “sharpness” fight in July rather than a dangerous shootout with Wilder.

With the Joshua door seemingly closing for the summer, Wilder is in a tough spot. He called Joshua out ringside after the Chisora fight, but if that doesn’t materialize, he might have to look elsewhere to stay active. He has mentioned interest in testing the young prospect Moses Itauma, but at this stage of his career, Wilder is likely hunting for one last massive payday.

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