Wilder Calls Out Anthony Joshua After London Win in 2026

Deontay Wilder publicly called out Anthony Joshua on Saturday night, telling the British heavyweight star “let’s get it on” following a split-decision victory over Derek Chisora at The O2 in London. Joshua was seated ringside when Wilder walked past him post-fight and, according to Wilder, told AJ directly that he believed Joshua was afraid to face him.

The confrontation adds a charged new dimension to the heavyweight division’s already crowded landscape. Both men entered their respective 50th professional bouts on the same night at the same venue — a numerical coincidence that fight promoters will not ignore.

How the Wilder-Chisora Fight Set Up the Joshua Callout

Wilder’s win over Chisora was the direct catalyst for the Joshua challenge. The Alabama-born knockout artist defeated the veteran British contender by split decision, extending his record while fighting on British soil — an environment that could only amplify the message aimed squarely at Joshua, whose fanbase fills arenas across the UK.

Derek Chisora, one of British boxing’s most durable heavyweights, has shared the ring with elite-level opponents across a lengthy career. Beating him on points — rather than by stoppage — may invite some scrutiny of Wilder’s finishing power, which was once his most feared weapon. The numbers suggest Wilder controlled enough of the bout to earn the judges’ favor, but a split decision leaves room for debate about his current form heading into any potential blockbuster matchup.

The O2 in London served as the backdrop for what amounts to a very deliberate piece of theater. Wilder did not simply win a fight Saturday night — he used the occasion, the venue, and Joshua’s ringside presence to launch the most visible callout of 2026. That calculated move tells you something about where Wilder believes the money and the legacy points are right now in the heavyweight division.

What Did Wilder Say About Anthony Joshua?

Wilder stated plainly after the Chisora victory that he told Joshua he is ready to fight and that “he’s scared.” The exchange happened as Wilder walked past AJ in the post-fight environment at The O2, making it a direct, face-to-face confrontation rather than a social media jab. Wilder then confirmed publicly that a fight with Joshua is his preferred next move, targeting the bout as his 51st professional contest.

Breaking down the advanced metrics of what each man brings to a potential matchup: Wilder carries the most destructive right hand in recent heavyweight history, while Joshua — a former unified champion who held the IBF, WBA, and WBO belts simultaneously — offers elite amateur pedigree and a size advantage that complicates any opponent’s game plan. Joshua’s 2021 rematch loss to Oleksandr Usyk and subsequent defeats have raised pointed questions about his chin and his ability to handle elite-level pressure, questions Wilder would aim to exploit.

Wilder also indicated openness to a fight with Moses Itauma, the unbeaten British prospect who has drawn significant attention from the heavyweight division’s top tier. That name-drop suggests Wilder’s team is actively mapping out a path through British heavyweights, with Joshua as the crown jewel of that strategy.

Key Developments From Saturday Night at The O2

• Both Wilder and Joshua were each competing in or attending their respective 50th career bouts on the same night, a milestone that framed the post-fight exchange with added weight.
• Wilder’s victory over Chisora came by split decision — not unanimous — meaning at least one ringside judge scored the fight in Chisora’s favor, a detail that complicates any straightforward narrative about Wilder’s dominance.
• Wilder named Moses Itauma as an alternative target if the Joshua fight cannot be arranged, signaling that his team has a tiered list of opponents in play.
• The callout occurred in person at The O2, not through a press release or social media, which gives the confrontation a spontaneous credibility that formal challenges often lack.
• Caroline Dubois vs. Terri Harper and Ellie Scotney vs. Mayelli Flores were also scheduled on the broader fight card weekend, underscoring the depth of the boxing program surrounding the Wilder-Chisora main event.

Can Anthony Joshua vs. Wilder Actually Get Made?

Joshua vs. Wilder is one of the most commercially attractive fights the heavyweight division has dangled in front of fans for years without delivering. Promotional complexities have historically blocked the bout — Joshua is promoted by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, while Wilder has worked with different promotional structures throughout his career. Bridging those competing interests requires the kind of financial commitment that both sides would need to view as unavoidable.

Anthony Joshua’s recent career trajectory adds urgency to the conversation from his side of the table. After consecutive losses to Usyk, Joshua rebounded with a knockout win over Otto Wallin in 2024 and has been targeting a return to world-title contention. A fight with Wilder — even outside a world-title context — would represent the highest-profile bout available to him in the near term and would draw massive pay-per-view interest in both the United Kingdom and the United States.

Based on available data from recent heavyweight box-office performance, a Joshua-Wilder fight staged in the UK would almost certainly rank among the highest-grossing British boxing events of the decade. The question of venue, purse split, and sanctioning body involvement would dominate negotiations. Wilder’s team has shown a willingness to fight abroad — Saturday’s London appearance confirms that — which removes one traditional sticking point from the equation.

An alternative interpretation worth considering: Wilder’s callout may be as much about leverage and publicity as genuine intent. Post-fight callouts are a time-honored promotional tool, and without a formal offer on the table, the exchange at The O2 remains exactly that — an exchange. Joshua‘s camp has not publicly responded, and until Matchroom and Wilder’s representation sit down, this stays in the realm of compelling possibility rather than confirmed scheduling.