Anthony Joshua was terrific in dispatching Otto Wallin in the desert last Saturday night, and now all attention switches to his next fight with promoter Eddie Hearn set to go to work again.
A Deontay Wilder superfight, planned for March 9, appears to be dead once more after ‘The Bronze Bomber’ was conclusively outpointed by Joseph Parker on the biggest shock of that immense ‘Day of Reckoning’ card.
Latest Ring heavyweight rankings: ANOTHER big shock for Deontay Wilder
Most of the talk now centres around a potential meeting with unbeaten Croat Filip Hrgovic (17-0) in March. Hrgovic is the top contender for the IBF heavyweight title currently held by Oleksandr Usyk, and Joshua (27-3) should now move into the #2 spot previously held by Wallin following his demolition job on the Swede. They could meet for the title if, as expected, it becomes vacant following that Tyson Fury vs Usyk unification match on February 17.
Hearn on Joshua’s next fight
While that fight could get Joshua right back into the heavyweight title picture as one of the major belt holders again, it’s not the one bout that Hearn absolutely craves for Joshua.
He said: “For me, Anthony always will make the final decision. He always takes advice, but he’s the boss and he’ll the final decision. He wants to become a three-time world heavweight champion, so that [Hrgovic] could be option. But there is a lot to play out with the IBF – it’s not just a case of on February 18th that belt will become vacant, because it won’t. Now If we’re all involved in a situation together – ie here – maybe it does become vacant.
“Listen, I have to be honest, I’d love him to fight Tyson Fury. if Tyson Fury can beat Oleksandr Usyk, I would love him to fight Tyson Fury. I love that fight, I hope that Tyson can be triumphant in that fight [vs Usyk].
“We’ll go away now, obviously going into tonight we had our plans for March. Now we have to re-assess, does he want to fight in March? We’ll speak to Ben [Davison], I know he’ll want to stay active I think. I think he’s in a wonderful position, I think that was a statement to say he’s the man to watch in 2024.”
Joshua on Fury vs Usyk
AJ, for his part, says he will try to be ringside for that Fury vs Usyk blockbuster – and he has a big-fight prediction too…
“I’ll try and be here. I tend to not go to many fights but that’s iconic fight so I’ll try and be here with my team. It’s gonna be a great fight but I’ll be straight out, I’m leaning towards Usyk, but who knows. They’re both at the top of their game, I wish them well, I hope they have a great training camp.
“Once that fight’s out of the way, the heavyweight division opens up again. All of us can start leading towards becoming champions. So 2024 is gonna be a big year for the heavyweight division. I’m leaning towards Usyk, I’ll be out there potentially, and I can’t wait to see them fight.”
