There is still a ray of hope that Anthony Joshua might next be fighting Deontay Wilder in an intriguing heavyweight match-up between two former champions.
The potential fight would represent one of the best contests for either men at this stage in their careers, even despite both being currently without a belt.
Joshua lost his to Oleksandr Usyk, and Wilder had his taken away by Tyson Fury, with both of the victors now set to face off in the first undisputed fight in 24 years at some point in the near future.
Over the summer Wilder has been strongly linked with a fight with Andy Ruiz Jr, though negotiations have been protracted and fractious.
Joshua, meanwhile, has been open about looking for the Wilder fight after his two comeback wins, though as yet nothing is signed, leading Wilder’s trainer to believe the Brit ‘doesn’t want it.’
Fabio Wardley is one man who would like to see the fight, but finds it hard to call.
Speaking to OUTBX, the current British heavyweight champion gave his view and sided with the American Olympic bronze medalist saying his one-punch knockout power is too much to evade for a whole fight.
“If I was a betting man, it’s almost hard to say because I do always want to back a Brit but I’d probably give it to Wilder.
I think it’s very difficult, especially with the way Joshua has been as of late, I think you have to edge it to Wilder, The way Joshua has been a bit cuter with his boxing, trying to stay at range and distance, I think that leads you in more to get caught.”
He then referenced what Wilder has said before about opponents needing to stay switched on for every moment of every fight but he only needs one second to switch out someone’s lights.
Whilst Wardley believes it’s true, he also doesn’t count out ‘AJ.’
“A lot of it depends on how Wilder turns up himself. He has a new coach with Malik Scott. He’s made him box smarter, cuter, maybe that plays in and Wilder doesn’t always let off that right hand.
So there are a few variables to bounce around. It’s never a foregone conclusion.”
He will be looking to settle their heated feud, which really boiled over when the pair had a scuffle at an earlier press conference for the fight.