Former two-time heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua has provided a glimpse into who he might face in his next bout.
The 35-year-old has been inactive since his tough defeat to Daniel Dubois last September, a fight where he was knocked down three times before being stopped in the fifth round.
Dubois has also remained out of the ring since their exciting clash. His planned fight against Joseph Parker, scheduled for February, was canceled.
Parker, the IBF champion, was meant to defend his recently won belt but had to pull out of the contest after falling ill during fight week.
Instead, the 27-year-old Dubois is now preparing for a rematch with heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk. Usyk will aim to reclaim his undisputed title at Wembley Stadium in London on July 19.
Usyk first took Joshua`s titles with a clear unanimous decision victory in 2021, and then retained his belts in their immediate rematch with a closer split decision win.
While many might expect `AJ` to be eager to challenge the winner of Usyk-Dubois 2, he has gracefully acknowledged, in an interview, that Joseph Parker is more deserving of that opportunity.
Meanwhile, with domestic rival Tyson Fury hinting at a potential comeback on social media, it seems Joshua still hopes for that massive fight.
“Hopefully [the Fury fight] happens,” he stated. “The industry should not be left without it, and those [who are] interested should be able to witness it.”
After discussing his interest in fighting Fury, the Olympic gold medallist named other potential heavyweight contenders: Martin Bakole, Agit Kabayel, and Deontay Wilder.
However, Joshua`s return to the ring still appears to be some time away. He is scheduled for elbow surgery later this month, which will likely extend his period of layoff a bit longer.
