Ten Years in the Making — Or Ten Years Too Late?
For nearly a decade, fans have been teased with the idea of Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder. It was the heavyweight fight. The one that could’ve defined a generation. And now—suddenly, somehow—it’s back on the table.
After Deontay Wilder’s seventh-round demolition of Tyrrell Herndon on 27 June, the talk has exploded once again. Eddie Hearn, Duke McKenzie, and Matchroom CEO Frank Smith have all floated the idea of a final eliminator in 2025—a mega-fight that might finally pit two of the most explosive punchers of the modern era against each other.
But let’s be real here. Is this actually the dream fight we waited for, or a well-packaged nostalgia act built to flog a few last PPVs? Because from where I’m sitting—as a lifelong boxing fan—it feels like we missed the moment. And now we’re all just playing dress-up.
Wilder’s KO Return: Impressive or Irrelevant?
Let’s start with the basics. Wilder needed a win. And he got it—blitzing Herndon in seven rounds and reminding us that his power hasn’t gone anywhere. But let’s not pretend this was some grand return to form.
Herndon, with all due respect, looked like a man who knew he was there to lose. Wilder was in control from the start, and once he found his range, the ending was inevitable.
Still, job done. One fight down, one more to come under his comeback deal. And if he wins that too? Then, apparently, it’s AJ time.
But while Wilder’s power remains frightening, his aura is gone. And that matters.
AJ: One Fight, One Chance, One Last Push?
Anthony Joshua, meanwhile, is nursing himself back to fitness after elbow surgery. He’s due to return in September for what’s being described as a “tune-up” fight—though in this division, there’s really no such thing.
Hearn has confirmed AJ is focused on making one fight before aiming for Wilder in late 2025. That’s the timeline now. That’s the target.
But we’ve heard all this before. For years, both camps have traded soundbites, deadlines, contracts, and excuses. And what do we have to show for it? Zero rounds. No fight. Just frustration.
This Was Meant to Be Our Era’s Tyson vs Lewis
Let’s rewind to 2017. Joshua just beat Klitschko at Wembley in a fight that felt like a coronation. Wilder was unbeaten, unbothered, and blowing people out inside four rounds. Both held heavyweight titles.
The hype was biblical. The stage was set. And then… nothing.
Not a bell rang. Not a punch thrown.
And as the years passed, the reasons kept changing—TV deals, purse splits, risk management. But we all knew what was happening. They waited each other out.
Now, after Fury broke Wilder and Usyk outclassed AJ, they’re circling back. But it’s not to unify. It’s to cash out.
AJ Wilder Fight 2025: Does It Still Mean Anything?
Let’s not sugar-coat this: this fight could’ve defined an era—now it’s trying to salvage it.
Neither man holds a belt. Neither is top of the division. Fury and Usyk are miles ahead in terms of resume and skill. Even Zhang, Dubois and Hrgović are arguably more relevant in the current title picture.
So what are we really watching here?
Two men in their thirties, trying to reclaim past glory? A dangerous fight with no world title on the line? Or just a nostalgia-driven PPV built on name recognition and a decade of what-ifs?
There’s still danger. There’s still drama. But is there still meaning?
This Feels Like Mayweather–Pacquiao All Over Again
Remember when Floyd and Manny finally fought? We waited five years. We got twelve cautious rounds. And we all kind of went… “meh.”
The hype was real. The fight wasn’t.
AJ vs Wilder runs the same risk. By the time they get in the ring, they’ll be years past their primes. The explosiveness might be gone. The hunger definitely is.
And if it’s a cagey, tactical affair filled with clinching and hesitancy? It could hurt their legacies more than help.
Because when you’re selling a decade of hype, the delivery has to match. And I’m not convinced it will.
So… Should It Even Happen?
Here’s the thing: I’ll watch it. You’ll watch it. Millions will. The pre-fight build-up will be huge, and the knockout threat from both men will still carry real tension.
But as a fan, I can’t help but feel robbed. Robbed of what this could’ve been. Because in 2018, this was history waiting to be written. Now it feels like two brands trying to stay relevant.
So yeah—AJ Wilder fight 2025 might happen. But will it matter? Or will it just remind us how broken modern boxing matchmaking really is?
Let’s Settle This in the Comments
Are you hyped for AJ vs Wilder—or is it too little, too late?
Head over to CMBoxing.co.uk and let me know what you think. Is this the final shot at legacy—or a cash-grab with no soul?
Don’t just scroll—drop your take, and let’s have the conversation this fight’s been begging for since 2017.