Eddie Hearn, promoter for British heavyweight star Anthony Joshua, would still love to see his boxer collide with career rival Deontay Wilder.

For several years, the two former world champions were linked to collide in the ring, but they never came close to reaching an agreement for a potential showdown.

During the last few years, both have suffered dramatic setbacks.

Wilder has been defeated in his last two bouts, with a decision loss to Joseph Parker and a dramatic knockout at the hands of Zhilei Zhang in June of 2024. Last September, Joshua was brutally knocked out in five rounds by current IBF world champion Daniel Dubois.

Both Wilder and Joshua are looking to get their respective careers back on track.

The Ring had previously reported, that Wilder is heading into a comeback fight with journeyman Curtis Harper. For his part, Joshua was looking to collide with countryman Tyson Fury - but that scenario was tanked after Fury unexpectedly announced his retirement last week.

If Wilder picks up a solid win in his next return, Hearn is very open to securing him for Joshua.

"Deontay Wilder is a fight, I think coming off the defeat people would still love to see. If Wilder comes back with a win, looks like he’s scheduled to fight again in February. Dillian Whyte, I don’t know. These are just names I’m plucking out, because AJ will fight," Hearn said, according to The Sun.

Turki Alalshikh, owner of The Ring and head of Riyadh Season, is also very interested in seeing Joshua and Wilder finally trade punches. Both Wilder and Joshua have been featured on Riyadh Season cards.

"If you want something about the British markets, I want to see Joshua and Wilder now. If Tyson is not available why not Joshua and Wilder?," Alalshikh told Talk Sport.