Anthony Joshua names four potential next fight options including Deontay Wilder and former foe

09/03/2024 16:35

Anthony Joshua has laid out his possible next steps after knocking out Francis Ngannou inside two rounds.

The former two-time unified heavyweight champion has earned a shot at the winner of Oleksandr Uysk vs Tyson Fury by beating Ngannou.

However, the heavyweight titans have agreed to a rematch after their inaugural encounter on May 18 meaning AJ may have to wait until next year for his opportunity.

The Watford powerhouse doesn’t intend to sit around in the interlude and insists he will return to the ring in either June or July.

It seems a summer showdown with Filip Hrgovic is the most likely option for Joshua.

At the time of writing, AJ is in a primed position to face the Croatian puncher for the IBF heavyweight title which will be made vacant provided Fury and Usyk rematch, as expected.

Joshua is ranked No.3 with the major sanctioning body while Hrgovic is placed two spots ahead of him at No.1.

The No.2 position remains unoccupied so the IBF may choose to throw a spanner in the works.

But as of right now, it looks as though they will order Hrgovic vs Joshua for their version of the world title after May 18.

When asked about whether he would entertain a fight with Hrgovic, Joshua told iFL TV: “Let’s go.”

AJ then named three other possible opponents he could box in the summer: “[Deontay] Wilder, [Zhilei] Zhang, [Joseph] Parker. Yeah, all of them can get it.”

A fight with either Zhilei Zhang or Joseph Parker is unlikely to be made next as Zhang is due a rematch after losing to the Kiwi on Friday night.

Meanwhile, the public appears to have lost interest in Joshua vs Deontay Wilder following the American’s dismal display against Parker on the ‘Day of Reckoning’ bill in December.

Regardless of who Joshua faces next, he will be accompanied by head trainer Ben Davison.

“I’ve made a new home with Ben Davison,” he added. “I’ll be working with Ben [going forward].”