The year was 2018, and Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder were undefeated and ruled the heavyweight division by owning all of the titles and were en route to face off for an undisputed championship fight.

After Wilder fought to a draw in December 2018 against Tyson Fury, the plan was for him to move on to face Joshua. In March 2019, DAZN offered Wilder $100 million for a three-fight package, including two vs. Joshua, but he declined the deal, citing dishonesty.

Joshua moved on to fight Andy Ruiz Jr. and suffered a shocking stoppage loss and hasn’t been able to properly find his footing since, going 6-4 in the last six years. Wilder moved on to face Fury two more times and lost both by knockout, and he’s 1-4 in the last six years.

And now, Wilder, who turns 40 on Oct. 22, and Joshua, who turns 36 seven days prior, are looking to reignite a rivalry that has seen its share of false starts throughout the years.

Wilder (43-4-1, 42 KOs) returns Friday to face Tyrrell Herndon (24-5, 15 KOs) at Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas. The Global Combat Collective PPV event will be distributed by BLK Prime, Fubo, and PPV.com, among others, for $24.95.

Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs), meanwhile, is recovering from elbow surgery and plans to return later this year for his first fight since getting stopped in five rounds by Daniel Dubois in September. He, too, needs a bounce-back win.

“If that fight against Joshua comes, and everything is right, why not?” Wilder told The Ring. “We'll deal with the situation when it happens. He's still in the business, and I am as well. I want all of [them]. I am not going after just one particular person. If it's a great fight to be made, I am there. I want to make the best fights people want to see.

“But I am not going to be around with picket signs asking for the fight. I am not going to do that. I never chased anyone. If people didn't want to fight me, it was what it was. ... I always wanted the biggest fights possible in my career.”

Wilder and Joshua were supposed to face off last year, but the former wasn’t able to beat Joseph Parker as the co-main event. Joshua gained a stoppage win against Otto Wallin in December 2023 in Saudi Arabia.

The decision defeat was a setback for Wilder, forcing him to seek a meaningful win against Zhilei Zhang. The result was even worse this time, and Wilder was zapped in five rounds last June.

It seems like a lifetime ago that Wilder was wreaking havoc in the division as an underweight knockout artist. Wilder enjoyed a WBC title run beginning in 2015 when he beat Bermane Stiverne and defended the title 10 times before meeting his match in Fury.

After overcoming mental health issues, Wilder wants to make one last run and face contemporaries he never got to clash with, including Oleksandr Usyk.

“I want the biggest fights possible,” said Wilder. “I don't care about who the individual is. I'm not dwelling on these guys. These guys wouldn't give me an opportunity to save their lives because they were stuck on not losing. I just wanted to be undisputed, but many people did not have me on their agenda because of how dangerous I am. That's OK. That's why I am still here pursuing myself and going on to do even greater things. This time it will be even more powerful.”