Deontay Wilder will not be fighting Anthony Joshua this summer. The former WBC world heavyweight champion was never actually contacted about a potential bout, despite promoter Eddie Hearn publicly floating the idea. Joshua instead returns on July 25 against unheralded Albanian Kristian Prenga in Riyadh, with the much-anticipated Tyson Fury showdown still slated for later in 2026.

Wilder's manager Shelly Finkel dismissed any notion of frustration, telling Sky Sports that Eddie never reached out and Joshua clearly had no intention of fighting him. "Can't be disappointed about something that never was," Finkel said. The two fighters have circled each other for years—nearly meeting in 2019 for the undisputed title before Joshua's shock loss to Andy Ruiz derailed those plans. They shared a card in 2023, with Joshua defeating Otto Wallin while Wilder suffered an unexpected defeat to Joseph Parker.

Wilder recently returned to action with a win over Derek Chisora in the UK earlier this month and remains eager for major opportunities. He's also been linked to a potential fight with unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk. "I must accomplish what I set forth in the beginning of my career," Wilder previously told Sky Sports. "Unifying the division would be an overwhelming feeling for me."