Boxing Betting Odds – Anthony Joshua vs. Deontay Wilder viewed as pick ’em ahead of potential fight
With 2023 expected to potentially bring with it an undisputed heavyweight title fight between WBC heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury, and Ukrainian tactician, Oleksandr Usyk, another eye-catching fight in the division in the form of a clash of former champions, Anthony Joshua, and Deontay Wilder has also been floated.
Joshua, a former undisputed WBA, IBO, IBF, and WBO heavyweight champion, is currently riding a two-fight losing run for the first time in his career, dropping his titles to the above-mentioned former cruiserweight, Usyk back in September of last year, before losing an August decision in Saudi Arabia in a summer rematch.
As for Wilder, the veteran former WBC heavyweight best, returned to both the ring and winner’s enclosure earlier this year with a blistering first round knockout win over Robert Helenius – snapping a run of two consecutive stoppages losses to British talent, the above-mentioned, Fury.
As a result, with both Joshua and Wilder out of championship contention for the time being, as well as the expected clash of Fury and Usyk, next annum, speculation suggests the former duo may eventually share the squared circle following years of fielded fights.
And according to the latest odds and markets, neither heavyweight duo can be separated – with both Joshua and Wilder currently sitting at 10/11 on early bookies, while a draw of any form between the pair can be backed as high as 16/1. Placing money on either Joshua or Wilder this early would appear to offer bettors the highest pokies payout.
Touted as the UK heavyweight boxing golden boy, Watford native, Joshua is without a victory since he successfully retained his slew of championships with an eventual ninth round TKO win over challenger, Kubrat Pulev back in December 2020.
The victory came as Joshua’s second back-to-back, after he avenged a 2019 TKO loss to Andy Ruiz in the form of a decision win in an immediate championship rematch.
24-3 as a professional, Joshua, who first won WBA and IBO heavyweight gold on home soil against a veteran, Wladimir Klitschko back in 2017 with a penultimate round TKO win at Wembley Stadium, managed to land defenses over Carlos Takam, Joseph Parker, and Alexander Povetkin before his TKO loss to Ruiz.
Viewed as one of the most formidable punchers and knockout artists in heavyweight boxing history, Tuscaloosa native, Wilder had enjoyed a stunning run of 40 consecutive victories and 39 knockouts before his draw against Fury in the first of their three bouts back in December 2018.
In between dropping back-to-back losses to the Morecambe native in 2020 and 2021, Wilder, 37 stopped Dominic Breazeale, and then Luis Ortiz in a rematch.
Forever linked with a championship clash against Joshua, particularly in recent years, Wilder began his WBC championship reign in 2015 with a decision win over Bermane Stiverne, before lodging a string of defenses over Eric Molina, Johann Duhaupas, Artur Szpilka, Chris Arreola, Gerlad Washington, and both Stiverne and Ortiz.
Between Joshua and Wilder, the duo hold 67 professional wins combined, with a further 22 knockout wins coming on Joshua’s side – while Wilder has finished a staggering 42 opponents with strikes from his 43 wins overall.
