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

Anthony Joshua is ready to lock in his subsequent combat. Sky Sports activities 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’s the greatest all-British heavyweight super-fight but to occur, however hopes for it to lastly happen have not been totally extinguished.

After their respective defeats to Daniel Dubois and Olekandr Usyk, it appeared a pure selection for each Joshua and Fury. However 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 isn’t too previous for a heavyweight.

Frank Warren, Fury’s promoter, instructed Sky Sports activities Information: “It is a combat that has not occurred and will have occurred. Is it too late? I feel there’s large curiosity within the combat.

“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

Consider it or not, discussions round Joshua truly 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 shouldn’t be a bodily juggernaut like Joshua, however he’s a industrial 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. Really preventing Joshua would have the identical shock affect because the Tyson occasion, however this time Paul can be vulnerable to a horrible knockout. The one time Joshua has beforehand boxed a ‘crossover’ opponent, Francis Ngannou, AJ levelled the UFC champion in brutal trend.

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.

However 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 instructed Sky Sports activities.

Deontay Wilder

In addition to 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.

Extra not too long ago Wilder was one combat away from boxing Joshua, after which misplaced to Joseph Parker. A stoppage defeat to Zhilei Zhang final 12 months harmed his standing additional. However the rivalry with Joshua nonetheless persists and forward of a comeback win over Tyrrell Anthony Herndon, Wilder’s co-manager Shelly Finkel instructed Sky Sports activities: “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 combat.

They had been resulting from rematch in 2023, however after Whyte returned an adversarial discovering in a pre-bout drug take a look at that second combat was known as off.

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

Daniel Dubois

Within the quick aftermath of Joshua’s crushing knockout loss to Dubois there was discuss 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. However equally the Usyk defeat might have dented Dubois’ confidence and evened up the match between them.

Martin Bakole

Joshua’s crew are wanting on the potential of staging a combat for him in Ghana. Maybe Bakole, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, might be an appropriate opponent for that occasion? He has beforehand sparred Joshua and will surely discuss up his probabilities.

After overcoming Jared Anderson, Bakole was considered as some of the formidable operators within the division. However 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 repute.

Oleksandr Usyk

Joshua has boxed Usyk twice and misplaced each bouts clearly on factors. There was little demand for a 3rd. However maybe – and listen to me out – a 3rd combat between them might be justified.

Usyk has completed every part and extra, gone undisputed at cruiserweight and twice at heavyweight, gained Olympic gold, by no means misplaced an expert bout and overwhelmed the division’s greatest twice over with two victories over Fury and Dubois in addition to Joshua. If he is solely going to have another combat, he is entitled to decide on probably the most high-profile opponent and most financially-rewarding occasion.

Within the heavyweight division in the present day the presently retired Fury and Joshua most likely do stay the most important 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.

Take into account this too. Often Usyk will get higher in rematches. As an illustration his second bout with Fury was a clearer victory than his first and he knocked out Dubois extra rapidly second time round as effectively. In distinction, Joshua is the one opponent of his to enhance in a rematch. He pressured Usyk extra successfully of their second combat than he did of their first. May Joshua enhance even additional in a 3rd bout with Usyk?

Watch the Riviera Field Cup finals this Sunday reside on Sky Sports activities‘ digital and social platforms.