Anthony Joshua’s quick future is taking form.
The return of the previous heavyweight titleholder reportedly has been pushed again to February or March. If he wins that combat, he’s anticipated to face Dillian Whyte in a rematch subsequent summer time.
Longtime contender Chris Arreola has mentioned that he has been in touch with Joshua’s handlers to be his subsequent opponent. Nonetheless, Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, insists he hasn’t been negotiating with the American fighter.
Otto Wallin is also rumored to be into consideration for early subsequent yr.
Joshua seemed to be on monitor to face WBC heavyweight beltholder and British rival Tyson Fury in an excellent combat this December. Nonetheless, talks broke down.
Fury is now anticipated to face Derek Chisora a 3rd time Dec. 3 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. An announcement is about for Thursday. And he might goal fellow titleholder Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed championship subsequent yr.
Joshua (24-3, 22 KOs) is coming off back-to-back resolution losses to Usyk. A gathering with Fury would’ve given him a possibility to reclaim his place on the prime of the division in a single fell swoop however it will’ve been a harmful combat.
As an alternative, he evidently will face a lesser opponent subsequent after which Whyte after that.
Hearn confirmed to Metro.co.uk that Whyte is the person Joshua is focusing on for the summer time. He additionally talked about a possible combat between Joshua and Deontay Wilder, one other former titleholder.
“For positive, it’s a combat all of us need,” Hearn mentioned, referring to Joshua vs. Whyte. … “The 2 largest fights on the market away from the world title combat are the Dillian Whyte combat, which should occur. It’s a large stadium combat subsequent summer time.
“The opposite is the Deontay Wilder combat, which is arguably the most important combat in boxing, even larger than Fury vs Usyk in all honesty. Two massive fights and whoever has the belts on the of the summer time, we will even be focusing on.”
He went on: “The Dillian Whyte combat is certainly simpler to make than the Wilder combat. However they’re, as all the time, going to be needed to be paid as a lot cash as attainable.
“However I feel it’s fairly simple for me to make that combat. AJ needs that combat, Dillian needs that combat and that’s a combat we will certainly see subsequent summer time.”
Fury stopped Whyte in six rounds this previous April.
