Anthony Joshua versus … Tyson Fury? Jake Paul? Oleksandr Usyk? The choices for AJ’s subsequent battle explored

Anthony Joshua is ready to lock in his subsequent battle. Sky Sports considers the choices for the previous two-time unified heavyweight champion…

Tyson Fury

Tyson Fury versus Anthony Joshua has been talked up and talked down, come shut and fallen aside time after time through the years. It is the most effective all-British heavyweight super-fight but to occur, however hopes for it to lastly happen have not been completely extinguished.

After their respective defeats to Daniel Dubois and Olekandr Usyk, it appeared a pure alternative for each Joshua and Fury. But AJ has been left ready as Fury hinted he’d come again subsequent 12 months, earlier than abruptly rowing again and insisting he’d keep retired.

Fury, although, is nothing if not mercurial and will nonetheless change his thoughts. At 37, he is not too outdated for a heavyweight.

Frank Warren, Fury’s promoter, advised Sky Sports News: “It’s a battle that has not occurred and will have occurred. Is it too late? I believe there’s great curiosity within the battle.

“Providing Tyson wants to carry on, I can see that fight happening. It’s up to the two fighters to make it happen. If they both want it and the terms are right it will definitely happen, but nobody will force them into it.”

Jake Paul

Believe it or not, discussions round Joshua really boxing Jake Paul proceed to assemble steam. Joshua is a bona fide heavyweight, a heavy puncher, to not point out an Olympic gold medallist and two-time former unified world champion.

Paul will not be a bodily juggernaut like Joshua, however he’s a business juggernaut. The social media star’s skilled boxing profession has been unignorable and whereas his bout with a 58-year-old Mike Tyson was, to place it mildly, questionable it was an enormous draw. Actually preventing Joshua would have the identical shock impression because the Tyson occasion, however this time Paul can be prone to a horrible knockout. The solely time Joshua has beforehand boxed a ‘crossover’ opponent, Francis Ngannou, AJ levelled the UFC champion in brutal style.

Tony Yoka

The Frenchman succeeded Joshua because the Olympic super-heavyweight champion when he beat Joe Joyce in a controversial gold medal bout at Rio 2016.

A star in his dwelling nation, Yoka has struggled in his skilled profession and misplaced three consecutive bouts to Martin Bakole, Carlos Takam and Ryad Merhy. He has been rebuilding since, and now has a UK-based coach in Don Charles and a British promoter in Warren.

But Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, insists that Yoka has not but entered the body to be AJ’s subsequent opponent.

“No discussions, no shortlist,” Hearn advised Sky Sports.

Deontay Wilder

As properly as Tyson Fury, Wilder is one other big-name opponent who has lengthy been related to boxing AJ. There was a interval when the Briton and the American held all 4 heavyweight world titles between them however they didn’t handle to agree phrases for an undisputed conflict at the moment.

More just lately Wilder was one battle away from boxing Joshua, after which misplaced to Joseph Parker. A stoppage defeat to Zhilei Zhang final 12 months harmed his standing additional. But the rivalry with Joshua nonetheless persists and forward of a comeback win over Tyrrell Anthony Herndon, Wilder’s co-manager Shelly Finkel advised Sky Sports: “If that goes well, we’re open to discussing anything.”

Dillian Whyte

Enmity has simmered between Joshua and Whyte ever since they boxed early of their novice careers. Joshua then stopped Whyte in an thrilling 2015 British title battle.

They have been as a consequence of rematch in 2023, however after Whyte returned an antagonistic discovering in a pre-bout drug check that second battle was known as off.

Subsequently cleared to field, relatively than resuming efforts to get the AJ rematch again on, Whyte has opted to face rising star Moses Itauma as an alternative. It’s a harmful battle for Whyte, however victory would catapult him to the higher reaches of the heavyweight division.

Daniel Dubois

In the instant aftermath of Joshua’s crushing knockout loss to Dubois there was speak of a rematch.

Now Dubois has misplaced to Usyk, a world title would not be on the road, which could make a shot at revenge much less interesting for Joshua. But equally the Usyk defeat might have dented Dubois’ confidence and evened up the match between them.

Martin Bakole

Joshua’s group are wanting on the potential of staging a battle for him in Ghana. Perhaps Bakole, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, could possibly be an appropriate opponent for that occasion? He has beforehand sparred Joshua and will surely speak up his possibilities.

After overcoming Jared Anderson, Bakole was seen as one of the vital formidable operators within the division. But he stepped in at quick discover to field Joseph Parker and was closely knocked out. Labouring to a draw with Efe Ajagba has additionally harm his status.

Oleksandr Usyk

Joshua has boxed Usyk twice and misplaced each bouts clearly on factors. There has been little demand for a 3rd. But maybe – and listen to me out – a 3rd battle between them could possibly be justified.

Usyk has completed the whole lot and extra, gone undisputed at cruiserweight and twice at heavyweight, received Olympic gold, by no means misplaced an expert bout and crushed the division’s finest twice over with two victories over Fury and Dubois in addition to Joshua. If he is solely going to have another battle, he is entitled to decide on essentially the most high-profile opponent and most financially-rewarding occasion.

In the heavyweight division in the present day the presently retired Fury and Joshua most likely do stay the largest names. Plus, it was Joshua who granted Usyk his first heavyweight title shot again in 2021. The Ukrainian nice may really feel like returning the favour.

Consider this too. Usually Usyk will get higher in rematches. For occasion his second bout with Fury was a clearer victory than his first and he knocked out Dubois extra rapidly second time round as properly. In distinction, Joshua is the one opponent of his to enhance in a rematch. He pressured Usyk extra successfully of their second battle than he did of their first. Could Joshua enhance even additional in a 3rd bout with Usyk?

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