Anthony Joshua vs. Deontay Wilder - Who wins?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Wilder's Trainer on Joshua Fight: The Deal is Almost Done

Malik Scott, trainer for WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, says a showdown with Anthony Joshua will happen one way or another in 2024.

The bout is targeted for a date in January, in the Middle East.

Joshua is scheduled to see action this coming Saturday night at The O2 in London, when he faces Robert Helenius in the main event.

Scott is also in London, as the trainer of Gerald Washington for his undercard fight with Derek Chisora.

Even if Joshua loses or struggles to win, Scott wants to see him in the ring with Wilder.

"I think they both should be in the ring with each other regardless," Scott told Sky Sports News. "Performance-wise, win or lose, to me Deontay Wilder and AJ should be in a boxing ring together. It should happen.

"It would be a true tragedy if we get the Riddick Bowe-Lennox Lewis [who never fought] effect with Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua. Them two deserve to be in a ring with each other."

Scott is hoping that Wilder will have an interim fight in October. He's been out of the ring since knocking Helenius in one round in October in 2022.

"The January thing is locked in, as locked in as it's going to be," Scott said.

"In the boxing world nothing to me is done until it's actually over. That's my personal opinion. But the high [level] talk, the deal is almost done."

According to Scott, just because his boxer knocked out the 39-year-old Helenius, it doesn't mean Joshua will not have problems in the fight.

"We iced him. I mean literally iced him, froze him," Scott said. "Helenius can fight, I love him. He has a great style, he's long, his chin is always behind his front knee besides the time he fought us and he paid. AJ may be facing a way better Helenius than we had, [if] he's not willing to make the same mistakes. We shall see."

[Ruthless-RKO]

Anthony Joshua: I’m Just Focused On Smashing [Wilder’s] Head In Now – And That’s It

Anthony Joshua wasn’t interested Saturday night in comparing what would’ve happened had he fought Deontay Wilder when they were undefeated world champions as opposed to them meeting later this year.

The 33-year-old Joshua just wanted to focus on the fact that they could finally fight next. Both the former IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, emphasized following his seventh-round knockout of Robert Helenius that they want Wilder next and will try to close that deal with Saudi investors as soon as possible.

“I don’t know,” Joshua said during his post-fight press conference when asked what would’ve happened if he fought Wilder sooner. “That’s what I’m saying. It’s all the same sh!t. We’re gonna fight and what will be will be. I can’t look back and say what would be, what would’ve been. I’m just focused on fighting him now. That’s it. That’s what I’m focused on. No questions, I’m not trying to compare what would’ve been. It’s a weakness. I’m just focused on smashing [Wilder’s] head in now – and that’s it.”

England’s Joshua (26-3, 23 KOs) brutally knocked out Finland’s Helenius (32-5, 21 KOs) with a single right hand in their DAZN main event Saturday night at O2 Arena in London. It took the British superstar nearly six more rounds than Wilder needed to decimate Helenius last October 15 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, where Wilder knocked out “The Nordic Nightmare” late in the first round.

Though neither Joshua nor Wilder holds a heavyweight title, their showdown remains one of the biggest fights that can be made in boxing. The 37-year-old Wilder (43-2-1, 42 KOs) hasn’t fought since the former WBC champion brutalized Helenius, whereas Joshua has won two fights in the past four months, both with respected American trainer Derrick James in his corner.

Joshua-Wilder would’ve been bigger had it been held at Wembley Stadium in London when the knockout artists were world champions, but Joshua stressed that it remains a marquee matchup.

“Any time is a good time to fight,” Joshua said. “It’s only a fight. It doesn’t matter who it is. It coulda been Wilder eight years ago or Wilder now, don’t matter. It is what it is at the end of the day. It’s only a fight. And boxing wins. So, roll on, really. There’s no like, no worry to me when it is. I’m just happy that we can get the fight going, and I think people appreciate that. You know, I’m doing my best to keep heavyweight boxing on the map.”

Hearn and Joshua dismissed speculation about a potential Plan B in the event negotiations don’t lead to a Joshua-Wilder fight finally coming together.

“We want that fight,” Hearn said. “That’s the fight we wanna make, so let’s focus on that.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

Deontay Wilder Very Pleased That Joshua Scored Vicious KO of Helenius

Malik Scott, trainer for former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, says his fighter was very pleased that Anthony Joshua scored a brutal one-punch knockout of Robert Helenius on Saturday night.

Back in October of last year, Wilder knocked Helenius out cold with a single punch in the very first round.

Joshua took a risk by facing Helenius on a week's notice - after his original opponent, Dillian Whyte, was pulled from the fight after testing positive for a banned substance.

After six rounds of tactical boxing, it appeared that Joshua vs. Helenius had a good chance at going the full distance.

That scenario quickly ended in the seventh round, when Joshua connected with a big right hand that dropped Helenius down and out.

Scott was watching from ringside at the O2 Arena in London. Earlier in the night, Scott worked the corner for Gerald Washington in his co-featured fight with Derek Chisora.

The stage is now set, provided that a deal is finalized, for Joshua and Wilder to collide on a January date in Saudi Arabia.

Wilder was happy to see a knockout ending, because he believes Joshua's ability to close the show will generate a lot more interest in their showdown.

"[Wilder] was like 'we needed that.' We both said the same thing because at first it was looking like it was getting ready to go the distance," Scott said to the October Red YouTube channel.

'So when the knockout came I called him on FaceTime and he was like 'I’m glad he got that, we needed it done just like that.' So we’re both satisfied, the fight is bigger to me than it was because of the knockout, so shoutout to AJ to going out there and getting the job done.

"Was I really impressed besides the knockout? No. Did it give me type of feeling that we got some trouble coming in January? No. It actually makes me more confident. I know that he only has three or four rounds in the ring with Deontay before he gets knocked out. It went up to the [seventh] round, but before then - the story is that AJ was being patient. He wasn’t trying to go for the knockout. That’s the sales pitch. But I really look at it like he wasn’t taking chances early on.

"And that’s like a good thing, especially when your next fight is possibly Deontay Wilder, who’s the hardest puncher in the history of the sport. Deontay is a very dangerous fighter right now. Deontay is coming to send him to the next dimension and that is his intention. When he is not punching at you, he is punching through you."

[big lennox]

It's a fascinating encounter. As has been said by everyone, both have the power to knock the other one out.

Wilder remains very dangerous*, so am leaning towards him, but if AJ can keep his hands high and jab his way in to land his right hand, he has an excellent chance.

* The only person I have seen with similar punch power to Wilder is David Tua in his pomp.

[jwfg]

Joshua by stoppage, bet your hoose on it.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Joshua by stoppage, bet your hoose on it.

You gonna put that bet on?

[jwfg]

It's a fascinating encounter. As has been said by everyone, both have the power to knock the other one out.

Wilder remains very dangerous*, so am leaning towards him, but if AJ can keep his hands high and jab his way in to land his right hand, he has an excellent chance.

* The only person I have seen with similar punch power to Wilder is David Tua in his pomp.

Wilder has rockets, but the guidance system isn't great. Nine rounds to stop Szpilka, eleven rounds to beat Duhaupas and nine rounds for Molina.

[jwfg]

Joshua by stoppage, bet your hoose on it.

You gonna put that bet on?

Definitely.

[big lennox]

It's a fascinating encounter. As has been said by everyone, both have the power to knock the other one out.

Wilder remains very dangerous*, so am leaning towards him, but if AJ can keep his hands high and jab his way in to land his right hand, he has an excellent chance.

* The only person I have seen with similar punch power to Wilder is David Tua in his pomp.

Wilder has rockets, but the guidance system isn't great. Nine rounds to stop Szpilka, eleven rounds to beat Duhaupas and nine rounds for Molina.

Good points. And he seemed to get very tired, quite early on, in the second and third Fury fights.

[Redback Rasta]

Wilder has a good chin, no quit in him and punches like a mother f.....er.

Joshua ticks less of those boxes and suffers from self doubt that causes him to stiffen up and back off when the heat is applied.

Wilder will win the psychological battle and land a bomb that Joshua either can't or won't get up from. It may not happen early but it will happen.

[jwfg]

It's a fascinating encounter. As has been said by everyone, both have the power to knock the other one out.

Wilder remains very dangerous*, so am leaning towards him, but if AJ can keep his hands high and jab his way in to land his right hand, he has an excellent chance.

* The only person I have seen with similar punch power to Wilder is David Tua in his pomp.

Wilder has rockets, but the guidance system isn't great. Nine rounds to stop Szpilka, eleven rounds to beat Duhaupas and nine rounds for Molina.

Good points. And he seemed to get very tired, quite early on, in the second and third Fury fights.

Very true. He took a pretty good beating in the last two Fury fights. There's no way of knowing what that did to his punch resistance. I think the measured approach he used on Saturday is the right way to handle Wilder. AJ doesn't have the speed of reflexes of Fury, so he can't beat Wilder to the punch like Luke did. I don't think it will be a barnstormer for the first few rounds, but Joshua will put him away with a single punch in the second half of the fight.

[jwfg]

Joshua suffers from self doubt.

That's a pretty big assumption.

[Redback Rasta]

Joshua suffers from self doubt.

That's a pretty big assumption.

As is yours that he doesn't.

[jwfg]

Joshua suffers from self doubt.

That's a pretty big assumption.

As is yours that he doesn't.

Objection your honour, speculation. Only he knows if he suffers from self doubt. I didn't make a judgement either way.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Will be getting 50 million each

[jwfg]

Will be getting 50 million each

AJ got £60M for the Usyk and Ruiz rematches. That's taken off the internet, so it may not be true.

[forcefraser]

According to Fast Car the deal with Wilder is already done?

Joshua is scared stiff of getting hit, he took zero chances with Helenius until he could see he was knackered. His confidence is still shot to bits.

If he is gunshy against Wilder he`s getting his noggin mashed off. Say what you want about Wilder but he has a set of Cajones on him and he`ll be looking to throw bombs from the off.

Right now I`d take Fury, Wilder, Usyk, Zhang, Joyce, Bakole and Mackmudhov to beat AJ. I don`t see him as top 5 anymore

[JamesPhilips]

According to Fast Car the deal with Wilder is already done?

Joshua is scared stiff of getting hit, he took zero chances with Helenius until he could see he was knackered. His confidence is still shot to bits.

If he is gunshy against Wilder he`s getting his noggin mashed off. Say what you want about Wilder but he has a set of Cajones on him and he`ll be looking to throw bombs from the off.

Right now I`d take Fury, Wilder, Usyk, Zhang, Joyce, Bakole and Mackmudhov to beat AJ. I don`t see him as top 5 anymore

I really don’t belive the Wilder fight will happen. Hearn knows he’s cashing Joshua out if it does

[JamesPhilips]

According to Fast Car the deal with Wilder is already done?

Joshua is scared stiff of getting hit, he took zero chances with Helenius until he could see he was knackered. His confidence is still shot to bits.

If he is gunshy against Wilder he`s getting his noggin mashed off. Say what you want about Wilder but he has a set of Cajones on him and he`ll be looking to throw bombs from the off.

Right now I`d take Fury, Wilder, Usyk, Zhang, Joyce, Bakole and Mackmudhov to beat AJ. I don`t see him as top 5 anymore

I really don’t belive the Wilder fight will happen. Hearn knows he’s cashing Joshua out if it does. Though what options does Joshua have?????

[tonyevs]

Wilder has a good chin, no quit in him and punches like a mother f.....er.

Joshua ticks less of those boxes and suffers from self doubt that causes him to stiffen up and back off when the heat is applied.

Wilder will win the psychological battle and land a bomb that Joshua either can't or won't get up from. It may not happen early but it will happen.

Wilder had the look of someone who didn't want to be in there as early as the 3rd rnd against Fury last time .. AJ is a bigger hitting guy than Fury and not likely to be as reckless as Fury to give Wilder the opportunity to land his wild punches; plus AJ is at his most dangerous when hurt .. at the moment he is trying to be smart, but there's nothing to suggest he doesn't respond when hurt.

Maybe Wilders poor level of opposition has flattered his KO power. It's gonna be a good watch for sure

AJ definitely had the best preparation for the fight. Sure he lost 2 decisions in his last fight, but he didn't take a pasting and they will have improved his boxing overall.
Wilder wouldn't have learned anything from the two pasting he took because they were like vbar room brawls.

[maverick23]

I love this fight and really hope it happens.

The fight with Helenius will hold AJ in good stead and Wilder’s inactivity won’t help but he’s not super technical or someone that I think needs activity to be at their best.

I can see AJ outboxing Wilder with the jab and having decent defence on the outside. Helenius was able to land some straight rand hands and that would be my concern as Wilder does throw a big straight right hand and then gets wild in the follow up.

What makes Wilder favourite for me is how strong he is mentally. I think he genuinely believes the excuses he gave for the Fury loss (their second fight) and I don’t think the losses have damaged his confidence too much.

The Helenius win will help AJ’s confidence but Wilder is a bit of a crazy man in that he will probably have zero doubt he’ll land a big one.

[Nightmare Roy]

I'll lean towards Wilder, insane power, big Heart and will to win, AJ a very live dog though but he will have to be aggressive to keep Wilder at bay. Fascinating fight though, both seem to genuinely want it. I'll actually pay for this one.

[The Gratest]

AJ did something really weird and amateurish during the fight on two ocassions. He held both hands out in front to push Helenius back. It reminded me a bit of Rahman's hand positions when KO'd by Lewis. If he tries something like that with Wilder, he'll get clocked.

[Nightmare Roy]

Not sure how AJ will handle the pressure, I imagine the pre fight build up and pressers will get very ugly with Wilder.

[margaret thatcher]

my prediction is that we keep bitching at each other while this fight fails to materialize