Anthony Joshua should earn another title shot against IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois by beating one of the established contenders, such as Martin Bakole or Tyson Fury, if he comes out of retirement.
No more free passes
Journeyman Dillian Whyte and faded former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder are two names that have been mentioned as strong possibilities for Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) to fight next if ‘The Gypsy King’ Fury cannot be lured out of retirement by Turki Al-Sheikh.
The idea would be that Joshua would use Whyte, 36, or Wilder to rebuild his confidence and status in the boxing world before facing Dubois in a rematch this year. However, these two fighters are no longer relevant in the division today and have not been for many years.
What Joshua needs is to beat one of these heavyweights to earn a title shot like regular fighters do:
– Martin Bakole
– Agit Kabayel
– Zhilei Zhang
–Joseph Parker
– Moses Itauma
AJ’s credibility is gone after his fifth round knockout loss to Dubois last September 21st in London, and he needs to establish himself as a guy who deserves a world title shot. That’s how it’s done for ordinary fighters, and it’s not fair that Joshua is given a chance to fight for a world title after beating the washed-up Wilder or Whyte.
Meritocracy over Star Power
“Where Anthony Joshua is now, put him in with Dillian Whyte and Deontay Wilder in the next six. If he wins those two fights then give him a fight against (IBF heavyweight champion) Daniel Dubois if he wants the rematch or Tyson Fury,” said Gareth A. Davies. talkSport Boxing about Anthony Joshua.
“Tyson Fury makes sense if he goes to box again, but definitely Daniel Dubois. He’s the belt holder now, and he’s going this way (uphill), while Joshua is coming this way (downhill),” said Adam Catterall. “He (AJ) has to win to earn the right to fight.
“There has to be a meritocracy about it. His profile needs to go out the window for a moment. Joshua needs to win a solid fight to get back into the mix. I personally would love to see the Fury fight, and if it’s not Fury, I’d love to push him to Martin Bakole. Why not? Bakole is a top contender, isn’t he?”
The way boxing is now, fighters who become pseudo-stars like Joshua don’t need to earn title shots. They are given without the need to work your way up to the position because it is about business.
If you’re a heavyweight belt holder, you’ll fight Joshua because it means a big payday, but it makes boxing look more like a popularity contest than an actual sport. It can’t be a real sport if popular fighters don’t have to earn title shots like ordinary fighters.
“Bakole is a big favorite in there at the moment, a big favourite,” Gareth said of how Bakole would be favored to beat the on-and-off 35-year-old Joshua.
AJ will be fodder for Bakole right now if that fight happens, but at least if he takes that fight, he would show that he believes in trying to earn a title shot. Again, it would look bad if Joshua gets a rematch with Dubois after beating the 39-year-old Wilder or Whyte.
“Maybe he is, but we’re talking about the best guys against the best guys. Let’s go for a spin,” Catterall said.
