After years of waiting for both Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua to get into the ring with each other, they appeared to be closer than ever. According to both sides, they placed ink to paper on a two-fight deal, the first of which would take place in March of 2024.

Of course, there was just one hurdle that needed to be cleared. For Joshua, Otto Wallin stood in his way. In the case of Wilder, he had to deal with Joseph Parker, a former world champion.

This past weekend, at the Kingdom Arena in Saudi Arabia, the pair fought on the same card in preparation for their mega clash. Wilder was first up, he promised to take care of business against Parker in the most violent way possible. He also assured fans that he wouldn’t break a sweat while doing so.

Following 12 mostly lopsided rounds, however, Wilder (43-3-1, 42 KOs) was proven wrong. From start to finish, the former WBC titleholder was outboxed and outworked. In fact, according to one judge, Wilder lost every round.

Now, with an unexpected loss plastered to his record, it would appear as though Wilder vs. Joshua is dead on arrival. With that said, Wilder still wants to get his hands on his longtime rival.

For a number of years, Wilder was convinced that Joshua was terrified of his power. Even now, despite picking up the improbable loss, Wilder is of the belief that Joshua is flat-out avoiding him.

“They really don’t want that fight,” said Wilder to 78 Sports TV. “They really don’t want that fight.”

Parker may have been smiling from ear to ear once his hand was raised in victory, but from Wilder’s point of view, no one was happier than Joshua. With a matchup against himself seemingly off the table for the foreseeable future, Joshua, as he made his way to the ring to dispose of Wallin, was buoyant throughout.

“When I lost, you see how happy he was coming out? ‘Now I can escape.’ I broke out laughing, I said, ‘That n-gga’s happy as f---.’ I made him able to perform like that [against Wallin]. He was like, ‘I ain’t gotta fight Wilder.’ The rumor was he was talking about retiring if I won. March 9, the fight still can go on. But this is a perfect way for them to get out," Wilder said.