Anthony Joshua’s pursuit of becoming a three-time world heavyweight boxing champion could be set for a fresh twist later this year.
AJ (28-3) is right back in the title mix after reeling off five wins in five fights since those back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and 2022.
Hugely impressive demolition jobs on Otto Wallin last December and Francis Ngannou earlier this month have many pundits believing that the British superstar is back to his devastating best. And now world title shots, and undisputed dreams, beckon once again.
We already know Joshua is in line to meet the winner of that Tyson Fury vs Usyk unification battle on May 18. The only problem is Fury and Usyk are already contracted for a rematch. That could leave AJ waiting until 2025 to meet one of them.
So what happens in the meantime? This is where it gets really interesting – because the smart money is that a world title will become vacant in the aftermath of that May 18 Fury vs Usyk blockbuster.
What next for Anthony Joshua?
talkSPORT expert Spencer Oliver, talking to Simon Jordan on YouTube, says he believes the winner of Fury vs Usyk will have to vacate the IBF title within 14 days, leaving it open. Filip Hrgovic is the mandatory contender right now, and Oliver believes he’ll face Daniel Dubois for the vacant title on June 1.
He said: “Daniel Dubois vs Filip Hrgovic was the fight that was going ahead anyway without the IBF title on the line. I believe the IBF title will become vacant and they will make that fight, with the winner – and here’s the twist – boxing Anthony Joshua. That’s the way the landscape looks or sounds.”
In even bigger news, Oliver believes that Joshua’s title date will take place on these shores at Wembley Stadium. Shocking because it appeared massive stadium shows could be a thing of the past with Saudi Arabia now hosting so many of the biggest fights.
Wembley date for AJ mooted
He explained: “I’m saying September, with Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn doing a 5 vs 5 again in September – that will be at Wembley Stadium – and I believe that’s where Anthony Joshua fights again and probably fights for the world title against whoever, maybe the winner of Hrgovic/Dubois or maybe the winner of Fury vs Usyk pending on how that fight goes, depending about the rematch clause, if that goes or not.
“But I believe Joshua fights for a world title, Wembley Stadium in September.”
