After Deontay Wilder Upset, There Are Only Two Options Left for Anthony Joshua for Next Fight but There’s a Catch

Anthony Joshua is currently the hottest property in the heavyweight division. After two tumultuous years that involved consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk, he has redeemed himself as he racked up three victories in 2023. The British boxer is on a resurgence and eyeing a more glorious 2024. However, his plans have already taken a hit, as his supposed fight with Deontay Wilder might be shelved. But it might all work out for the former heavyweight champion.

‘AJ’ has put the heavyweight division on alert after dismantling Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius, and, more recently, Otto Wallin. The fight with the Swede on December 23 was a setup for ”The Bronze Boxer’, who fumbled the bag by losing to Joseph Parker on the same card. But if he looks beyond that fight, his path is lined up with golden opportunities, one ambitious and one practical.

Anthony Joshua: The lofty dream fight

The winner of Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua was always meant to challenge for the gold. The winner would have clashed with the eventual victor of Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk at the end of 2024. But the loss of Wilder has effectively cut short the line.

Joshua suddenly finds himself as the next no-brainer contender for the heavyweight crown. The 34-year-old boxer might just choose to wait instead of picking a fight on the slated March 9 date. If Tyson Fury emerges as the undisputed champion, he might take on Joshua next. Lennox Lewis has also sanctioned this hypothetical fight.

“He’s [AJ] still got to go up against Tyson Fury. If that fight’s going to be made. I think that’s going to be a great fight for him,” Lewis told TNT Sports. Fury vs. Joshua is a PPV blockbuster, and fans would love to see them finally go blow-to-blow in the ring. But the two fellow compatriots might not meet in 2024. Notably, Fury vs. Usyk has a rematch clause, which might take one year to conclude. Still, there is a silver lining.

IBF title: The fight to return to the champion’s throne

Before Fury vs. Usyk 2 concludes, the IBF title will have no holder. The winner won’t be able to fulfill the IBF’s mandatory Filip Hrgović‘s long-overdue challenge. With Hrgovic and Joshua both picking up wins on the same night and Wilder effectively inserting himself into retirement talks, the path is clear for them to fight it out for the IBF strap.

The Watford native has repeatedly specified his intent to reclaim the gold and fight for it. If the IBF title is vacant, Joshua will have qualms about inking a deal with Hrgovic. Eddie Hearn has also set his heart on his fight if the opportunity opens up.

“Maybe it is a blessing because this guy is about championships. He wants to become a three-time heavyweight world champion. It will be Filip Hrgovic against AJ for the world title,” Hearn told TNT Sports. However, there are more lucrative deals on the market.

The catch fight for AJ: Deontay Wilder, Andy Ruiz, or Zhilei Zhang?

What about the Saudi money that has titled the boxing landscape? Can they throw a sum that is hard to ignore? Yes. If they want a fight, the fight will happen in Riyadh. That might precisely be the case with Anthony Joshua vs. Deontay Wilder. Likewise, Joshua hasn’t ruled out a bout with the American boxer.

“I knew how important this fight was to me. I heard Deontay lost. So what? He will come back,” Joshua expressed with a glimmer of hope during the post-fight conference. His recent exploits have even attracted the attention of Zhilei Zhang, who is keen on a rematch of their 2012 Olympics fight. Andy Ruiz Jr. is sailing on the same boat and eager to bank on their previous rivalry to materialize a trilogy fight.

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While the fight with ‘Big Bang’ might pull a million PPV buys, Hearn might not give it a green light. Despite it being an intriguing fight, he can’t risk ruining Joshua’s aspiration of becoming a three-time heavyweight champion. What will Joshua prefer? Money bags or a chance to hold the champion’s title once again? Everyone knows the answer.

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