Eddie Hearn says there’s a pool of “10 fighters” that he’s considering to choose as Anthony Joshua’s next opponent. Of that bunch, he mentioned Martin Bakole, Efe Jagba, and Tony Yoka as three possibilities.
Bakole a Risky Comeback Choice
The Matchroom promoter, Hearn, said that he’s unsure if Bakole (21-2, 16 KOs) is the right option for the former two-time heavyweight champion Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) to fight, given that Joshua is coming off a 15-month layoff. That would be a tough fight for AJ even if he weren’t coming off a long break.
What complicates Hearn’s job is the bad knockout AJ suffered in his last fight against Daniel Dubois on September 21, 2024. Dubois knocked out Joshua in the fifth round. He dropped AJ four times in the fight, ending with him getting counted out in round 5.
Jake Paul Fight Still on Radar
Hearn states that he’s still interested in the Jake Paul fight for Joshua in early 2026, but he’s unsure if the popular fighter will get through his November 14th match against Gervonta Davis without suffering an injury. He’s not going to have Joshua sit and wait on the outcome of that fight.
Hearn told IFL TV that there are a “pool of I don’t know 10 fighters” that Anthony Joshua could fight next. “Bakole? Yes. That’s not an easy fight. You’ve got Ajagba as well.”
Bakole, 33, didn’t look good in his last two fights against Efe Ajbaga and Joseph Parker. Choosing him at this point would be a no-win situation for Joshua, as he would not receive credit for beating him. If AJ loses or struggles to win, he’ll be criticized by fans.
Tony Yoka Brings Size and Reach
Tony Yoka (14-3, 11 KOs) would also be a tough fight, potentially for Joshua, and one that he wouldn’t receive credit for. The 2016 Olympic gold medalist Yoka has a 3-3 record in his last six fights, and his only wins have come against obscure fighters.
Tall Opponents Have Troubled Joshua
At 6’7′, Yoka has the size to potentially beat Joshua if his punch resistance has not been impaired from his loss to Dubois. The 6’6″ AJ wouldn’t have the height and reach advantage over Yoka like he’s enjoyed through most of his career against smaller opposition. The tall fighters that Joshua has fought, 6’6″ Wladimir Klitschko and 6’5″ Dubois, gave him problems.
“You’ve got to ask yourself with [Joshua] being out of the ring for 15 months, is that the right fight to come back into? Maybe,” said Hearn about Bakole as an option for Joshua.
The way Hearn is talking, he doesn’t sound eager for Joshua to fight Bakole. You can’t blame him. Although Bakole has had weight issues in his last two fights, he’s still powerful and would be a threat to Joshua as long as he lasts.
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Last Updated on 09/29/2025
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