Well, this is awkward.
After years of watching Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder dance around each other like teenagers at a school formal, we're suddenly back to square one. Except now both fighters are coming off brutal losses, their stock has dropped, and somehow - somehow - this makes the fight more likely than ever. Boxing logic, ladies and gentlemen.
When "What If" Becomes "Why Not"
Remember 2018? I was still optimistic about this sport back then. Joshua and Wilder were both undefeated monsters, and their potential clash felt like the biggest heavyweight fight since... well, since forever. The negotiations dragged on longer than a root canal. Offers flew back and forth. Egos clashed. Promoters pointed fingers.
And then it all fell apart.
Fast forward to today, and both guys are licking their wounds. Wilder got absolutely schooled by Joseph Parker in December 2023 (still can't believe that happened), then Zhilei Zhang knocked him into next week last June. Meanwhile, Joshua's been sitting on teh sidelines since Daniel Dubois turned his lights out in September.
Frank Smith Drops the Bombshell
Here's where it gets interesting. Frank Smith - Matchroom's CEO and the guy who probably has Joshua's next three fights mapped out on a napkin somewhere - just told Boxing News something that made my coffee go cold:
"Do you know what fight I love? If he comes through his warm-up, Deontay Wilder."
Hold up. What?
Smith went on: "This sport is about narrative. It's about buying into fights that people have interest in and that's a fight that everyone would still have interest in. Regardless of whether it didn't happen five years ago, people still want to see it now."
The man's got a point. Sometimes the best time for a superfight is when both fighters need it most.
Poor Dillian Gets the Boot (Again)
Meanwhile, Dillian Whyte - who was supposedly in the running for a Joshua rematch - just got his hopes crushed faster than my New Year's resolutions. Smith's response when asked about a Whyte fight? A brutal two-word dismissal: "No Joshua."
Ouch.
This comes after Whyte pulled out of his scheduled return on Fabio Wardley's undercard to chase a summer fight with Lawrence Okolie instead. Bad timing, Dillian. Really bad timing.
The Whyte-Joshua rematch was always complicated anyway. Their original 2023 bout got cancelled after Whyte's drug test came back with an "adverse finding" - boxing's polite way of saying someone screwed up. Since then, Whyte's been fighting in Gibraltar and Ireland, picking up wins that nobody really cares about.
The Stars Are Aligning (Sort Of)
Here's the thing about boxing - sometimes the perfect storm creates the perfect opportunity. Joshua's recovering from elbow surgery. Wilder's trying to rebuild after two devastating losses. Tyson Fury's supposedly retired (again). The heavyweight division feels... quiet.
Wilder has a tune-up fight against Tyrrell Herndon in Kansas on June 27. If he looks good - and I mean really good, not just "didn't get knocked out" good - then this Joshua fight suddenly makes sense.
Smith laid out the reality: "There's so many options out there. It just also depends on what he wants to do, if he wants to go for the world title again. What does he want to chase?"
Why This Actually Works Now
Listen, I know this sounds crazy, but hear me out. Both fighters are 35+ and coming off losses. The pressure's off. The ridiculous expectations from 2018 are gone. This isn't about undefeated records or undisputed championships anymore.
It's about two legends trying to prove they've still got something left.
That's a story I can get behind. That's a fight that sells itself without the manufactured drama and Twitter beef. Just two guys who've been through hell, looking for one more moment of glory.
Plus, let's be honest - what else is Joshua going to do? Wait around for Fury to unretire? Chase Usyk for a trilogy nobody wants to see? Sometimes the best option is the one that's been staring you in the face all along.
Wilder vs. Joshua in 2025 might not be the superfight we dreamed of in 2018. But it might be exactly the fight we need right now.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common mistakes that beginners make when they first start boxing?
Overextending the punches is a common mistake. Other mistakes include dropping the hands, not recognizing defense, holding your breath, ignoring footwork and focusing on power instead of technique. A qualified coach can help you identify and correct these errors early on to prevent them from becoming habits.
How can I determine the size and type of glove that is right for me?
Size and type depend on weight, level of protection needed, and the activity that you are engaging in. Gloves measure in ounces. Beginners usually start out with 14oz or 12oz gloves to train for general sparring and then upgrade to heavier ones for more protection.
Can boxing improve mental well-being?
Boxing improves mental health in many ways. It reduces stress, boosts mood, increases self-esteem, promotes discipline, and provides a sense accomplishment. The concentration required to train can also be used as a form meditation. It helps clear the brain and improves concentration.
What is the difference between amateur and professional boxing?
Amateur boxing focuses more on the sporting aspect. It focuses on technique, skill and scoring points than on knockouts. Often, the rounds are shorter and require protective headgear. Professional boxing involves a full-time job with longer bouts, no protective headgear, a focus on power and knockouts and no headgear.
Statistics
- Surveys reveal that close to 40% of new boxers join the sport for self-defense purposes rather than for competition or fitness.
- Approximately 80% of boxing injuries occur during training, not in actual competition.
- Roughly 75% of beginners do not employ adequate defensive tactics in their first sparring sessions.
- About 25% of people who take up boxing transition to competitive amateur boxing within their first two years of training.
- Despite the stereotype that boxing is a young person's sport, approximately 20% of all beginners are over the age of 40.
- Boxing has one of the lowest rates of injury compared to other contact sports, with approximately 1.1 injuries per 1,000 minutes of athletics.
- Studies suggest that about 30% of beginner boxers tend to neglect the importance of footwork in their initial training phase.
- On average, beginner boxers improve their punching power by 10%-20% after six months of consistent training.
- On average, beginners who undergo proper boxing training can expect to burn anywhere from 300 to 500 calories per hour.
- Nearly 95% of boxing trainers agree that mental conditioning is just as important as physical training for beginners in the sport.
External Links
How To
How to Spar as a Beginner Boxer?
Protective gear like gloves, helmets, and mouthguard should always be worn when sparring. Start sparring light and focus more on technique than power. Discuss intensity with your partner, and then use the time to put into practice what you learned during bag work and drills. It is important to have a coach oversee sparring sessions so that they can provide immediate feedback, and ensure the safety of both partners.
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