Via Barry Holbrook: Eddie Hearn said now that Tyson Fury is out of action for Anthony Joshua’s next fight, the plan is for him to now have “two quick skirmishes” to build his confidence back and help him. ready to take on the big names again, says Eddie Hearn.
As for who former two-time heavyweight champion Joshua (24-3, 22 KOs) will fight, it’s still unclear. Hearn says he wants Joshua to fight two of the top 15, which can be translated as junior contenders like Agit Kabayel, Demsey McKean or Zhang Zhilei. Kabayel will be a good opponent for Joshua.
It is important that Joshua is not rushed back to the battlefield against someone who is too good right now, as he is having consecutive defeats at the hands of Oleksandr Usyk.
Hearn said December 17 or possibly January is when Joshua will fight next. Now that the Fury fight is off, Joshua doesn’t need to fight in December as he can afford to rest after his loss to Usyk last August.
“I always felt after the Usyk fight, he should come back with two of the top 15, and then Fury swings the carrot, and AJ takes the bait. But now that’s not happening, it’s still the same plan, really,” Eddie Hearn told DAZN Boxing Show about Anthony Joshua’s plans for his next fight.
“He [Joshua] can choose to make that fight [Deontay Wilder] next, but it’s likely you’ll see him with a top 15 guy. Sometimes I read things. AJ made an offer to Chris Arreola. Absolute trash. Next thing. was reported in all newspapers.
“I haven’t even talked to Chris Arreola about the war, and that’s everywhere. I’m not saying it was a bad fight. We did not contact him about that fight.
“Otto Wallin’s name is sometimes thrown around. Apparently, he had a good fight with Tyson Fury. Anyone in the top 15. Joe Joyce is a good fighter, a tough fight. I think he is a useful person to anyone. It could be a big UK war.
“For me, let’s see what happens to AJ’s team. If he doesn’t get the Fury fight and it looks like he won’t, I think we go back to two quick fights to get the machine in motion and confidence returned and became a three-time world champion,” Hearn said.
