Former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay ‘Bronze Bomber’ Wilder needs a win over Tyrrell Anthony Herndon this Friday, June 27th, to stay in the pipeline for a long overdue clash against Anthony Joshua later this Year.

A fight like this usually would be an easy first-round knockout for a prime version of Wilder, but with the way he’s performed over the last five years, it’s not a sure thing he’ll defeat Herndon.

Anthony Joshua Fight at Stake

A defeat for Wilder against Herndon will ruin a mega-million-dollar payday against Joshua. We’re talking big-time pressure on the Bronze Bomber’s shoulders for Friday’s confidence-builder against Herndon.

Deontay’s last five fights

– Zhilei Zhang: TKO 5 loss
– Joseph Parker: UD 12 loss
– Robert Helenius: KO 1 win
– Tyson Fury: KO 11 loss
– Tyson Fury: TKO 7 loss

The 39-year-old Wilder (43-4-1, 42 KOs) comes into his fight against little-known journeyman Hernandon (24-5, 15 KOs) with a lowly 1-4 record stretching back to 2020.

It’s clear to fans that he’s a shell of the fighter he once was during his glory years. The 2008 Olympian Wilder has shown that he can no longer pull the trigger on his punches and has become utterly gun-shy after a string of knockout defeats.

Wilder-Herndon Fight Details

Wilder-Herndon will meet in the 10-round main event this Friday, June 27th, at the Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas. The main card begins at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT on PPV.com. The price is $24.99. The ring walks are scheduled for approximately 11:00 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. PT.

“I know he’s [Wilder] a name that’s been mentioned. There is a potential that AJ could fight Deontay Wilder in October, November, December, and then fight Tyson Fury,” said Eddie Hearn to Sky Sports about a fight between Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder later this year.

Fans Still Want Joshua-Wilder

Fans still want to see Joshua and Wilder fight despite both coming off knockout defeats, and neither is anywhere near their best. The fight should have taken place earlier in their careers, but for one reason or another, it never did. Now, the only way it can happen is if Wilder is victorious against Hernandon on Friday.

“First things first is Friday. If that goes well, we’re open to discussing anything,” said Wilder’s co-manager Shelly Finkel to Sky Sports.