Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder could be one fight away from undisputed fight
- Joe Hewlett
- 29 May 2022
The pair were locked in talks to fight for all four major belts in 2017 only for negotiations to stall.
Deontay Wilder has confirmed he will continue fighting and there are plenty of options for him next.
The main objective of his 'journey' is to become heavyweight world champion again, and it could happen sooner rather than later.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman told Planet Sport that if Tyson Fury retires from the sport, Wilder will be in line to challenge for the vacant belt against either Joe Joyce or Joseph Parker.
Joyce and Parker were set to fight this summer but it has been delayed due to Andy Lee - Parker's trainer - being unavailable for the fight.
It could be rescheduled for September - despite Parker being interested in a rematch against Dillian Whyte - and the winner will be ordered to face Wilder if the title becomes vacant.
It may be too soon for Wilder to fight for the WBC crown this year so a tune-up fight could happen before a fight with either Joyce or Parker in early 2023.
Meanwhile, Anthony Joshua is expected to fight Oleksandr Usyk in a rematch on July 23 for the WBA, IBF and WBO titles.
Joshua surrendered his heavyweight straps to Usyk last September with Usyk producing a boxing masterclass to win via unanimous decision in London.
AJ has admitted that he has a 'game plan' for the fight - something he has never had before in his nine-year professional career.
It appears Joshua is going to be more aggressive in the second fight against Usyk and if he wins, he'll become a three-time unified heavyweight champion.
Should Joshua beat Usyk and Wilder can climb back to the top, then the road to undisputed may take another dramatic twist.
Can Joshua avenge his defeat?
Boxing reporter Rob Tebbutt told Planet Sport that he believes Joshua can reclaim heavyweight gold but is up against it.
Joshua has two career defeats with the other being to Andy Ruiz Jr although he avenged the loss in 2019.
The 2012 Olympic champion has ditched Rob McCracken from his corner and promoted Angel Fernandez as head trainer for the summer showdown.
Tactics will be key to the fight for Joshua and he cannot attempt to try and outbox Usyk, according to Tebbutt.
"I'm probably in the minority that thinks Joshua actually boxed pretty well in the first fight. Was it the right game plan to beat Oleksandr Usyk? Evidently not," Tebbutt told Planet Sport.
"But I don't know. I was impressed with how he boxed it was just the wrong fighter to do it against and I feel like it's gonna be really difficult I felt Usyk was a stylistic problem for Anthony Joshua before the first fight.
"And I think we saw that on the night and a lot is being made of what Anthony Joshua could do differently and what he can learn from from fighting Oleksandr Usyk, but it's a two-way street. I think Usyk is going to be better as well.
"I think he's going to be more prepared for the physical attributes of Joshua - he would have felt his power his speed. Joshua can win the fight, he's naturally bigger.
"He needs to land something clean and hurt Usyk and put him away. My man Barry Jones often says, 'I feel like people often overcomplicate things' and certainly that fight felt like AJ did in the first fight.
"Maybe do what he's most known for, which is boxing behind a stiff jab and letting his hands go and combinations, but it's much easier said than done when you're going in there against one of the best pound for pound fighters in a world.
"I think he can win. Will he win? I don't think so. I think Usyk will win the rematch. But you never know. I mean it is that old adage of it's heavyweight boxing. It only takes one shot. But I see Oleksandr Usyk repeating against Anthony Joshua," Tebbett added.
