Eddie Hearn revealed the eight potential options that are being looked at for Anthony Joshua’s next fight this summer if his primary target, Tyson Fury, chooses to stay retired.
Fury abruptly retired this week in an unexpected move following his loss to unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in their rematch on December 21st. Hearn still thinks Fury isn’t serious and is just looking to be lured back with a big offer.
Hearn’s Shortlist
If Tyson stays retired, Hearn says the options below are possible targets for AJ to fight in the summer.
– Dillian Whyte
– Joseph Parker
– Daniel Dubois
– Martin Bakole
– Zhilei Zhang
– Agit Kabayel
– Deontay Wilder
Some of those names would seem unlikely, given Hearn said that he doesn’t want Joshua to fight anyone with “no commercial benefit.” That pretty much rules out Bakole, Zhang, Kabayel, and Parker.
AJ’s Realistic Options
The only fighters on the list that Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) to make good money are Whyte, Deontay, and Dubois. Former WBC heavyweight champion Wilder, 39, looks washed up and has lost four out of his last five fights. However, AJ is considered shot to pieces as well. So, a fight between him and Deontay wouldn’t be bad. Still, boxing fans would ridicule Joshua if he took the fight with Wilder. Hearn would never hear the end of it.
“He would be up for fighting Bakole. He’s up for fighting anyone. We have to look at the big fights. I don’t want him taking a tough fight for no commercial benefit. I wouldn’t be doing my job,” said Eddie Hearn to Secondsout, talking about Anthony Joshua. “He’s not focused as much on the money, but I am.
“I’d love Bakole in Africa. Dillian Whyte in London. Deontay in America. The winner of Kabayel against Zhang. I’m just telling you names now before anybody says they’re a possibility because I have no idea. Deontay Wilder, Dillian Whyte, Martin Bakole.
“For me, the ones that really get him up for it are Tyson Fury and the winner of Dubois against Parker. It doesn’t mean he won’t get up for the other fights. He’s going to fight this summer. That’s simple,” said Hearn.
Bakole a Threat
I don’t know why Hearn bothered to mention Martin Bakole’s name because he knows he would never let Joshua near the heavy-handed knockout artist. After the way Bakole destroyed America’s best heavyweight, Jared Anderson, on August 3rd, Hearn wouldn’t dare allow AJ to fight him.
“When Bakole called him out the other day, I think that was quite good for AJ. He has been kind of down in the dumps. Every winner would be when they get beat, and I think that got his back-up a little bit. He’d be up for fighting Bakole. He’s always has done,” said Hearn.
Read the full article here
