Via Barry Holbrook: Eddie Hearn has revealed fallback options for Anthony Joshua’s December fight if he can’t negotiate a big fight against Tyson Fury.
Hearn said he wanted to pick a top 15 contender, NOT a “gimmie” level opponent for Joshua. Here are the Hearn options listed on Wednesday:
- Filip Hrgovic
- Zhilei Zhang
- Otto Wallin
Hearn was still talking when he was interrupted by two DAZN hosts from their Boxing gig, so he didn’t get a chance to complete a list of potential opponents for a bout with Joshua next month. twelfth.
From the guys Hearn listed, those were all potentially dangerous battles for Joshua because of their strength and caliber.
For Joshua to fight any of these three, he will need to defend at the right time as he can be knocked down.
“He wouldn’t want a gentle touch. I think that will work against him,” Eddie Hearn told DAZN Boxing Show about Anthony Joshua’s potential opponent for December if the Tyson Fury fight fails.
“It was a guy in the top 10; You can pull him off the leaderboard yourself. As soon as I start mentioning the name, the price goes up. The last thing AJ wants is a gimme fight.
“We are not interested in gimme matches. It must be an element of risk. Look at the top 15. Dillian Whyte is not a fight for December, but a fight for March and summer, 100%. It’s a big stadium in England.
“You’ve got Filip Hrgovic. He just won. I think it was a poor performance by him. Zhilei Zhang looks good. Otto Wallin had a very close fight with Tyson Fury.
“Dillian is a very good fighter; He is a dangerous warrior. I want to fight Dillian in November, and then I want to fight AJ, depending on the content of Tyson Fury.
“These people have to be active. Dillian fought in March 2021, and then his next fight is in April 2022. These guys, including AJ, they fought for a year because of Covid because of the rematch because mission. I want to make them work.
“AJ who fights every three months becomes a tough guy to beat as long as confidence remains, once faith in his coaching staff is gone. I spoke with AJ last night, and his message was clear. ‘If he [Fury] seriously, let’s do it. ‘
“Like I said, the original plan was December, February, March, and that could be Dillian Whyte or going into Fury or Wilder or all of those,” Hearn said.
