And still those voices are calling from far away. The familiar lyrics of The Eagles’ “Hotel California” echoed around the O2 Arena during one final, stirring Derek Chisora ring walk. Wake you up in the middle of the night, just to hear them say… “BOOOOOMB SQUAAAAAAD!”
This was the familiar refrain of Deontay Wilder, screeching over Chisora’s post-fight interview after edging past the Briton in a brutal, draining duel under the iconic dome. Chisora’s fairytale farewell was not to be on Saturday, with the veteran hitting the canvas before two of the three scorecards favoured his American opponent.
And so, a 42-year-old Chisora will (reluctantly) leave boxing behind, at least the dangerous side of the ropes, while a 40-year-old Wilder battles on. Would this future have been the same if had the result been reversed?
It’s hard to say. Chisora claimed before the bout that he would retire regardless, which was and is the right call, but you never know with “Delboy”. Wilder seemed more defiant, despite his waning powers and worsening record. With that in mind, perhaps even defeat might not have marked the end for the ex-heavyweight champion.
And he certainly appears intent on channeling this victory – as slight as it was – into more success. Just ask Anthony Joshua.
“Let’s do it,” were Wilder’s words to his old rival on Saturday, as the American navigated his way out of the O2 and past his fellow former champion. Joshua, 36, was making his first public appearance in the UK since December, when he survived a fatal car crash in Nigeria, which claimed the lives of two of his close friends.
With that tragic incident still fresh in the mind, there are those who believe “AJ” should call time on his own storied career. Yet the Briton will return to the ring, his promoter has confirmed, with a summer comeback on the cards after he dismantled YouTuber Jake Paul four months ago.
So, here we are, with arguments abounding that Joshua and Wilder should each retire, yet with both linked once more.
“You ain’t ready for that,” Joshua replied after Wilder’s comment, with the American walking off and sniping: “He’s scared as f***.” It was one of Wilder’s tamer comments on a week of stupefying ones.
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Joshua vs Wilder has been mooted for the best part of a decade, but it was never closer than in 2023, when they shared a ring. They did not share the ring as opponents, instead boxing one after the other; Joshua took apart Otto Wallin, but only after Wilder faltered against Joseph Parker. If both had won, they would have met in two contracted fights, per Wilder.
He could not uphold his end of the bargain and went on to lose to Zhilei Zhang, while Joshua knocked out ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannou. But Joshua and Wilder’s fortunes would reverse yet again, when AJ was brutally beaten by Daniel Dubois in 2024 and Wilder stopped Tyrrell Anthony Herndon last summer. With each man adding another win since then, it feels like a showdown could be sold once more.
Should it be, however?
Firstly, Joshua seems to be on a different path, with his planned summer fight likely serving as a warm-up to a clash with Tyson Fury. Yes, that fight – even more craved and elusive than Joshua vs Wilder – is on the cards again. And even if Joshua vs Wilder could be lined up, would it be the right move?
Joshua would be the favourite at this point, but it shouldn’t be forgotten that his sole win in the last two years came against an influencer-turned-boxer, and that we still don’t know where his head is at (most recently, he’s been training with former opponent Oleksandr Usyk in Ukraine). Meanwhile, there was plenty of criticism of Wilder in the wake of his win over Chisora, including those afore-mentioned calls for his retirement.
This writer saw it slightly differently. Yes, Wilder’s performance was flawed, but he looked much less gun-shy and much more resilient than in recent outings. When you weigh up every factor on his side and on Joshua’s, it feels like they might just balance out.
That said, one of Wilder’s post-fight comments contradicted the idea that he was more trigger-happy: “I held back a couple of times, because when I cut his eye open, I started thinking about him being with his children, and when I saw veins coming out of his temple…” Still, that’s not what we saw. Furthermore, Wilder and Chisora are friends, and the “Bronze Bomber” would surely show no mercy to AJ.
Again, though, it should be noted that Joshua appears to have other options. Does Wilder?
He has talked up a world-title fight, which will almost certainly not come. Just a few months ago, unified champ Oleksandr Usyk hinted at a voluntary defence against Wilder, but it will instead come against kickboxer Rico Verhoeven, and Usyk will then be forced into a mandatory defence. The only other heavyweight world title is held by Fabio Wardley, who will defend it against Daniel Dubois in May, and it would be a farce for Wilder to challenge the winner.
However, a fight between Wilder and the loser of Wardley vs Dubois appeals.
At this point, Wilder will not risk his boxing future against anyone who is not a champion or a top name, which leaves him with very few options. For better of worse, Joshua remains the most-interesting option of all.
