Wilder vs Joshua: Last Shot at the Fight We Were Promised

Anthony Joshua may retire from boxing next year, according to Eddie Hearn, which puts him under pressure to land the legacy fights that never materialized, especially against Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury, with all three now coming off recent defeats. Fury stepped away after a second loss to Oleksandr Usyk, ending any hope of a full-circle trilogy.

Joshua, meanwhile, has been working his way back following a brutal stoppage by Daniel Dubois in late 2024. He has since undergone elbow surgery, with recovery on track. A return is now being planned for the end of the year.

Deontay Wilder, who faces Tyrrell Herndon on June 27, is listed at –1700 to win at the best crypto esports betting sites, where sharper lines and wider markets keep drawing action from traditional sportsbooks.

That comeback bout is already drawing eyes beyond the result, as it sets the stage for a winter collision with Joshua. If that lands, the door may finally open for a full heavyweight reset—unfinished business, long delayed.

A reset hangs in the balance

Daniel Dubois will go against Oleksandr Usyk at Wembley on July 19, months after flooring Joshua in brutal fashion. He comes in lean, focused, and sharper than he has looked in years, with his team pushing a stripped-back camp built entirely around timing and movement.

What hangs on that night stretches beyond the belts—timing, leverage, and who controls what comes next. Usyk, meanwhile, remains the most technically disciplined heavyweight active today, but this will be his fourth tough opponent in less than two years, which adds a physical question mark, whether anyone says it out loud or not.

Tyson Fury, though retired officially, has never been far from the noise. Talk of a direct return to the title scene has already begun behind the scenes, especially if the Usyk-Dubois fight ends in a close call or controversy. Should Dubois win decisively, a Fury return in early 2026 becomes nearly inevitable.

Outside the big names

A few other fights are quietly shifting the direction of the divisions just beneath. This weekend in Birmingham, Galal Yafai defends his interim WBC flyweight title against Francisco Rodriguez Jr.—an opponent with a long record and enough experience to test Yafai properly.

It’s a small fight in terms of size but a big one in terms of what it means for Yafai’s path, particularly if he gets a knockout or wins with ease. Lower weight divisions rarely get the spotlight unless there’s a moment worth chasing, and Yafai is building one.

Elsewhere, Jaron Ennis is preparing to make his first appearance at 154 pounds later this summer. For a while now, Ennis has been billed as a future superstar in the welterweight space, but with that division tied up in mandatory bouts and drawn-out rematches, the move up could fast-track him toward real headliners.

He brings power with patience—an unusual mix at this level.

At 140 pounds

Richardson Hitchins will defend his IBF title against George Kambosos Jr. on June 14. It is a fight that has not picked up a huge media wave yet, but that actually plays in its favor. Hitchins is aiming to steady his career.

Kambosos, still trying to reclaim his place, has little room left for missteps. That urgency on both sides often produces the kind of edge that hype alone cannot manufacture.

Momentum at 168

Christian Mbilli enters June 27 unbeaten and chasing the interim WBC super-middleweight title. With Canelo focused elsewhere and Benavidez stepping into a new weight class, the division is shifting. Mbilli, known for staying strong through the final rounds, sees the opening—and wants to move now, while others stall.

Pressure at the summit

If Wilder takes care of Herndon and Dubois beats Usyk, Joshua’s chance to reenter the spotlight narrows by the week. This year may be his final chance to shape how that story ends. Relevance matters, but legacy is decided by how the final chapter is written.

The division has spun on the same headlines long enough. Now, the stalemate looks ready to break; there are fewer promotional barriers than before, more open schedules, and unfinished rivalries to keep momentum building into early 2026.

What comes next will shape more than title holders—it will decide who stays in the story when all of this is over.