Wilder Has No Regrets Over AJ Fight That Never Was as Joshua vs Fury Finally Confirmed

Deontay Wilder has broken his silence regarding the proposed fight with Anthony Joshua that failed to materialize on multiple occasions, insisting he has no regrets about how negotiations unfolded while expressing continued interest in a potential future clash. The American heavyweight champion's comments come as Joshua's long-awaited bout with Tyson Fury was finally confirmed for later this year.

The proposed Joshua-Wilder fight had been discussed extensively over several years, with both parties seemingly close to reaching an agreement on multiple occasions before talks repeatedly collapsed. Wilder believes the fight simply wasn't meant to happen at that particular time, suggesting that the boxing gods had other plans for both fighters.

"I've got no regrets about anything," Wilder stated during an exclusive interview. "Joshua and I spoke many times about fighting, and I genuinely believed we would meet in the ring. When it didn't happen, I moved on. That's the nature of this sport. Now Tyson gets his shot, and I genuinely wish them both well."

The Alabama-born knockout artist acknowledged that the boxing public remains fascinated by the prospect of a Joshua-Wilder showdown, with social media speculation suggesting fans still crave the matchup despite Joshua's upcoming fight with Fury. Wilder left the door open for future negotiations, though he emphasized his focus remains on his own career trajectory.

"Never say never in boxing," Wilder added. "I've achieved everything I wanted in this sport, but there's always another challenge out there. If the Joshua fight makes sense down the line, we'll have that conversation then. For now, I'm focused on what I can control."

Wilder's comments were largely magnanimous as he reflected on the rivalry that never was, praising Joshua as a "true professional" and expressing confidence that his own legacy remains intact regardless of whether the fight materializes. The 39-year-old continues to hold ambitions of adding to his collection of world titles before considering retirement.