Is Joshua Vs. Wilder Still A Big Fight?

Carl Froch says that Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder should retire, despite speculation the pair could finally face off. 

The pair were once one of the most-feared fighters in the heavyweight champion. Joshua was the former unified heavyweight champion, while Wilder held the WBC belt. Joshua would eventually lose his belts to Oleksandr Usyk, while Wilder lost his title to Tyson Fury, which prevented an undisputed fight.

The two fighters are not at their peak, reducing the demand to see the fight. Joshua was knocked out by Daniel Dubos in his last fight, hitting the canvas three times. Meanwhile, Wilder secured a stoppage win over Tyrrell Anthony Herndon in his last fight against a journeyman. However, it was four defeats in his last six, as Wilder is no closer to a title shot. Froch has now called on the pair to retire. 

“I’m not interested in seeing Wilder fighting again from what I’ve seen. His punching power seems to be gone, his legs seem to be gone as well, when he gets clipped he struggles. I just don’t see why these fighters need to carry on and destroy their legacy and ruin it. That’s AJ and Wilder. I don’t think these fighters should be fighting anymore,” Froch said

Should It Happen?

Joshua’s loss to Dubois, a fighter who himself had been stopped by Oleksandr Usyk, raises questions about Joshua’s chin and his ability to handle pressure from a power puncher. Joshua has already achieved everything in the sport, made a significant amount of money, and now risks further damage to his legacy by continuing.

Froch has long questioned Wilder’s mental state, suggesting that a spiritual journey has taken away his “killer instinct.” A fighter known for his explosive one-punch knockout power, Wilder has appeared gun-shy and unable to pull the trigger in recent fights, making his comeback victory against a lesser opponent unconvincing as a sign of his return to form. 

At one point, it was a fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship, a battle between two undefeated knockout artists at the peak of their powers. However, with both men having lost their titles and their air of invincibility, the stakes have been dramatically lowered.