Wilder Could Join Power Slap, Amir Khan On AJ’s Recent Isolation

In some latest boxing news, Deontay Wilder has hinted at his next move following the sport of boxing.

The former WBC heavyweight champion is currently struggling to find an opponent following his first-round stoppage win over Robert Helenius in 2022, almost a year ago, as the boxer’s recent inactivity continues.

The attempts at making a fight with Anthony Joshua are no closer to being successful. Negotiations for a fight in Saudi Arabia failed after Skills Challenge Entertainment were no longer able to deliver the fight.

Although Eddie Hearn has attempted to rekindle any hopes of the fight being made, it has not proved successful. And at the age of 38, Wilder’s time in the sport is slowly diminishing. And given that a world title shot appears unlikely for now, Wilder appears to have found a new venture.

During a recent attendance at a Power Slap show, Wilder had this to say: “Live and in person yo this is different and I think I got a career in it. Lol I’m done where’s the door…Dude said where’s my money,” Wilder

Despite this being the case, the focus was clearly on a fight with Joshua. The Bronze Bomber was on hand to once again plead with Joshua’s side to get the fight over the line.

Wilder On AJ

There had been hopes that a fight between the two could appear on the Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk card after AJ had suggested that attempts were still being made.

Although that may be the case, those claims have been shutdown from Fury’s camp leaving Wilder and Joshua none the wiser. And yet, the American was making another last-ditch effort to make the fight.

“A fight that everybody is looking forward to and hopefully it happens – I’m doing everything in my power to make it happen – I’m referring to the Anthony Joshua fight. So Anthony, you’re hearing it from my mouth, here, personally, from the horse’s mouth himself. I’m here, I’m ready, I’m ready to go. I heard some things your promoter said that my last fight only lasted a short period of time and I ain’t fought in a year, so he don’t know if I wanna fight or not. But I’m letting you know right now, right here, I’m ready to fight. I’m ready to get in the ring man, let’s make this the best time of our lives,” Wilder said

Khan On AJ

Meanwhile, Amir Khan has reacted to Anthony Joshua’s decision to isolate himself for four days in a dark room, which raised many talking points over the boxer’s mindset.

The former unified heavyweight champion is no longer at the top of the sport, having seen Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk take all the belts.

And given that the duo have agreed a deal for undisputed, that has left Joshua pondering the next steps, particularly since this had been a focus. A bout with Fury has failed to materialise, despite two 60-40 offers being directed towards AJ.

As for a fight with Deontay Wilder, talks for a fight in Saudi broke down, as an agreement continues to be out of reach. The decision to enter into a period of isolation was based on Joshua’s alleged desire to focus on things outside of boxing. But now it appears that the pressure may simply have been getting to Joshua.

“You go on social media, and people are picking on you or talking bad about you. So, your days are so crazy, and sometimes, when you get involved in that, it can start to affect you. I think with Anthony Joshua, that’s what’s happened. He [Joshua] needed to get away from social media, from his life and his busy life. I’m sure when he walks the streets in the UK, he’s easily recognizable, and the same with me. Everyone can recognize me from a mile away. It did get to be too much for me, and I needed to walk away from the sport. When I did, it was the best thing ever, and now I’ve got to do things that I’ve never have done,” Khan said

Ultimately, Joshua’s form has been questioned ever since the loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. After having been stopped on his American debut, Joshua’s come-forward style was abandoned in favour of boxing and moving.

Since then, several trainers have come on board including Robert Garcia, and now Derrick James. But given that a title shot appears to be out of reach, Joshua’s motivation for fighting must be clear.