Eddie Hearn has revealed the eight possible options being looked at for Anthony Joshua’s next fight this summer if his primary target, Tyson Fury, chooses to remain retired.
Fury abruptly retired this week in an unexpected move following his loss to unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in their December 21 rematch. Hearn still thinks Fury isn’t serious and is just looking to be lured back with a big offer.
Hearn’s short list
If Tyson remains 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 will seem unlikely as Hearn has said he doesn’t want Joshua to fight anyone “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 out and has lost four of his last five fights. However, AJ is also considered busted. So, a fight between him and Deontay wouldn’t be bad. Still, boxing fans will ridicule Joshua if he takes on Wilder. Hearn would never hear the end of it.
“He would be willing to fight against Bakole. He is ready to fight anyone. We have to look at the big fights. I don’t want him to fight hard for no commercial gain. I wouldn’t be doing my job,” said Eddie Hearn Second salttalking about Anthony Joshua. “He doesn’t focus so much on the money, but I am.
“I would like to have Bakole in Africa. Dillian Whyte in London. Deontay in America. The winner of Kabayel vs. Zhang. I’m just telling you names now before someone says it’s a possibility because I have no idea. Deontay Wilder, Dillian Whyte, Martin Bakole.
“For me it’s Tyson Fury and the winner of Dubois against Parker that really sets him up. That doesn’t mean he won’t get up for the other fights. He is going to fight this summer. It’s simple,” Hearn said.
Bakole a threat
I don’t know why Hearn bothered to mention Martin Bakole’s name because he knows he will never let Joshua near the hard hitting knockout artist. After the way Bakole destroyed America’s best heavyweight, Jared Anderson, on August 3, Hearn wouldn’t dare allow AJ to fight him.
“When Bakole called him out the other day, I think it was pretty good for AJ. He was quite down in the dumps. Every winner would be when they are beaten, and I think it got his back up a little bit. He would be willing to fight against Bakole. He always has,” Hearn said.
