Anthony Joshua is back to his best and is now eyeing a huge bout after beating Francis Ngannou in March.
AJ brutally knocked out the UFC legend in the second round of their fight in Saudi Arabia, making it four wins from four since successive defeats against Oleksandr Usyk.
That win has put him in prime position to challenge for world titles once again and a blockbuster meeting with Tyson Fury is on the cards.
So what is the latest on Joshua’s next opponent? talkSPORT.com takes a look…
Anthony Joshua next fight
Joshua’s next fight is still in the works.
An incredible bout with Fury has been spoken about for a long time and fans will be hoping the all-Brit heavyweight clash happens soon.
AJ has recently hinted at a potential date for their meeting if the Gypsy King comes out on top of his undisputed showdown with Usyk.
Fury and Usyk have a rematch clause in their contract, however, a step-aside fee from Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh could see the Joshua fight happen instead.
And Alalshikh has previously revealed that AJ vs Fury is one of the fights he wants to see the most.
During an ‘Ask Me Anything Q&A’ on Reddit, he revealed the top three fights he hopes to make in the future are Fury vs Joshua, Terence Crawford vs Canelo Alvarez and David Benavidez vs Artur Beterbiev.
Away from Fury, there have also been other names thrown into the hat as Joshua’s next opponent.
Filip Hrgovic is set to take on Daniel Dubois on June 1 for the vacant IFB heavyweight title.
And he believes that the winner of that fight will take on AJ in September at Wembley Stadium.
Hrgovic said: “It should be me against Dubois for the vacant IBF belt. Then the winner should fight Joshua, but you never know in boxing.
“Joshua is the dream fight and I hope I will beat Dubois and then fight him in Wembley in September. That would be perfect.”
Deontay Wilder has also been tipped for a bout against Joshua later this year after teaming up with Eddie Hearn.
He is not expected to turn down the chance to fight AJ should the opportunity arrive.
AJ next fight: What’s been said?
Hinting at the possibility of him and Fury finally getting it on soon, Joshua told the BBC: “Boxing is changing a lot, there is a new player, Turki Alalshikh, who is taking the world by storm.
“He is doing what he wants for the fans, it’s amazing. So if the fans demand it, I know that he will deliver.
“I know the fans want me and Fury, I want that. I’m not going to give away plans, but he is a man of action.
“It’s coming, most definitely it’s coming.”
Pressed further on whether a fight with Fury would be next for him, Joshua added: “To be honest, he [Alalshikh] said be ready for September.
“Why he said that is because they have got a fight on June 1, all the heavyweights, five vs five, Eddie Hearn vs Frank Warren.
“And they have got Fury vs Usyk in May. And then they will have me in September. It’s unbelievable.”
Savannah Marshall has followed her rival Claressa Shields to the PFL where she will now compete in MMA in a bout that now looks certain to be made
Claressa Shields’ biggest rival has followed her to mixed martial arts after signing with the PFL. Savannah Marshall has been announced as the latest boxer to move over to MMA, with her debut already set in the PFL – where she could eventually be reunited with Shields in a fitting end to their 10-year rivalry.
Shields and Marshall had been seen as the two best prospects in boxing heading into the 2012 Olympics, where the latter defeated the American, handing her her first loss of her amateur career.
She went on to boast an incredible 64 wins to just one loss, coming against Marshall, before both turned professional with talks of a fight for years finally coming to a head in 2022. Shields was able to exact her revenge in their professional bout – winning by unanimous decision as the two shared words of respect after the bout.
But since then, the two have gone back and forth on social media and after wins of their own, with a future fight seemingly likely – and now, potentially in a different sport.
Shields recently impressed in her PFL win
The PFL announced Marshall will fight in Newcastle on June 8, with the PFL already announcing their intentions of a future bout with Shields.
A PFL statement read: “Savannah and Claressa Shields competed in one of the most-watched women’s boxing matchups in history when they first fought, and now with Savannah’s MMA debut, the two are on a collision course for a rematch wearing four ounce gloves and settling the score in the PFL SmartCage.”
Shields defeated Marshall in 2022
The PFL have made a number of impressive signings of the last 12 months, including former UFC champion Francis Ngannou and YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.
Paul is reportedly set to make his PFL debut at some point in 2024, however no bout has yet been announced with the 27-year-old currently scheduled to face Mike Tyson in July.
Eddie Hearn has slammed Francis Ngannou for appearing to suggest that his demolishing defeat by Anthony Joshua was down to his early arrival at the arena.
Joshua knocked down the former UFC heavyweight champion three times in two rounds to secure a dominant victory in Saudi Arabia.
Ngannou, in a recent interview on the MMA Hour, said that he arrived at the Kingdom Arena, in Riyadh, two hours earlier than Joshua, appearing to suggest that this was a ‘trick’ to tire him out.
Joshua’s promoter Hearn has taken exception with the comments, suggesting the 37-year-old ‘should know better’.
He told Boxing Social, ‘I was baffled. It is a bit disappointing really.
“He said they got him to the arena (early), who is they? You get given times by the broadcaster.
“He said that he was made to come to the arena early to tire him out for the fight, which is really an inexperienced boxing guy talking here, he should know better.
“You get your time, which is the ideal time that the organizer or the broadcaster would like you there, you make your own mind up.
“Some fighters like to get there three hours before, some like to get there an hour before, it all depends on the fighter.
“If AJ is told for example that “we want you there at 10 ‘o’clock” and we know that the fight is happening at 1am, then we would come a little bit later, because he doesn’t want to be hanging around that long.’
Hearn also reacted to a social media post which contained Ngannou’s comments, stating: “I’m not sure he has come round yet.”
Ngannou after the fight confessed that he couldn’t remember being knocked out by Joshua and that from going back to his stool in between the first and second rounds, he ‘wasn’t there anymore’.
It’s the showdown all boxing fans want to see.
A former member of Anthony Joshua’s camp has given his view on the possibility of Joshua taking on Tyson Fury.
After brutally dispatching of Francis Ngannou earlier this month, the boxing world is desperate to see Joshua finally step into the ring with Fury, in what would be one of the biggest fights in British boxing history.
Fury has to navigate his way past Oleksandr Usyk when the pair finally lock horns in May. If Fury successfully beats the Ukrainian, it could open the door for the titanic bout.
Richie Woodall, who worked with Joshua as part of his team at the Olympics in 2012, has been asked about the mouth-watering fight. Although he can see Joshua’s improvement, he still says the match would be too tough to call.
“Last couple of performances he’s boxing really well, it’s working with Ben Davison,” he told Boxing Social.
The way he knocked out Ngannou was very impressive indeed. I think the fight everyone still really wants to see deep down is Tyson Fury versus AJ.
“But Fury has a very difficult fight against Usyk, but Tyson looks in really good shape so it’s a close one to call. I’m actually going for Fury, I think he will be too big for Usyk, but I can’t wait for it.
“But I think the one we want to see is AJ, I think he’s improving with Ben Davison, fair play to him so why not, it’s an exciting division.
“We’ll have to judge it on [Fury’s] next fight with Usyk, it’s going to be a difficult fight and he’s going to have to be at his best so Tyson versus AJ is 50-50 at this stage but if he beats Usyk he starts the favorite.”
Boxing fans are in a frenzy after AJ’s cryptic post
ANTHONY JOSHUA has teased an imminent fight announcement – just weeks after his destruction of Francis Ngannou.
The Watford warrior made light work of the former UFC heavyweight champion earlier this month, brutally knocking him out in the second round of their Saudi showdown.
Anthony Joshua brutally knocked out Francis Ngannou earlier this month
AJ, 34, is now in prime position to face the winner of the historic undisputed heavyweight title fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk in May.
But the London 2012 gold medallist has hinted that he may be back in the ring sooner rather than later.
On Friday night, AJ posted a photo of himself on the phone to his Instagram story with a caption suggesting he may have received a “call” about his next fight.
AJ has teased an imminent fight announcement on Instagram
It read: “Incoming call from @258management. AJ: ‘How can I help?’ @258mgt: ‘They want you to fight.’
“AJ: ‘I will get ready.'”
Joshua’s cryptic post spread like wildfire on social media, with some boxing fans fearing it meant bad news for the previously postponed Fury vs Usyk.
One asked on X: “Fury or Usyk is dropping out of the fight?”
Another said: “Which ones pulled out? Fury or Usyk? I’ll go the latter this time?”
AJ’s cryptic post sparked fears for Tyson Fury’s undisputed straightener with Oleksandr Usyk
And another said: “Fury out again? Usyk AJ 3?”
Most fight fans, however, were convinced AJ is teasing a rematch with the resurgent Joseph Parker, who has won his last five on the bounce.
One said: “It means he’s fighting Joseph Parker in July.”
Another said: “Means Parker 2 man I’ve tried to deny it but that’s probably what’s happening.”
And another said: “Joe Parker if [Deontay] Wilders taking on [Zhilei] Zhang.”
Boxing fans are eagerly awaiting Anthony Joshua’s next move
Former two-time heavyweight king AJ faces a long wait to face the winner of Fury vs Usyk as the pair have a rematch clause in their lucrative contract.
He could find himself fighting for the IBF heavyweight title later this year as the sanctioning body is set to strip the winner of Fury vs Usyk of the belt.
That stripping will take place in order for their long-time mandatory challenger – Filip Hrgovic – to vie for the strap.
The British heavyweight champion is looking ripped for his fight vs Oleksandr Usyk
Heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has a unique capability of changing his physique in a matter of months through hard training and dedication. Although he has been constantly criticized for the many times he has ballooned out of control, Tyson Fury almost always responds inside the ring with brilliant performances. His poor performance against Oleksandr Usyk was a wake up call for him to get fit again for the most important fight of his boxing career. A unification bout against Oleksandr Usyk that has been moved at least a couple of times but it will happen on May 18. When the initial news of Tyson Fury’s eyebrow injury broke, the man himself posted a picture of the body transformation he experienced in the last couple of months.
Tyson Fury makes some unhealthy choices while grocery shopping
Tyson Fury is ripped and ready for Usyk
Although it has been a month since the fight was rescheduled, Tyson Fury has kept on training after a short break with his family. In fact, the shape he is in at the moment seems far better than the shape he has ever been before. Tyson Fury is even showing some decent abs in on of the most recent photos he posted. Folks immediately started comparing him to other famous bald-headed people like Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. It should be interesting to se how much more Tyson Fury will progress before stepping on the ring to fight Usyk.
It is important to note that to this day, Tyson Fury still hasn’t lost a single one of his fights but the one against Francis Ngannou should’ve probably been a defeat. With the current training camp, that entire experience of being dropped by an MMA athlete in the early stages of that fight made Tyson wake up. If he didn’t get serious preparing for Usyk, something similar if not worst could happen to him. Tyson Fury knows that losing this fight could be dangerous for his impeccable record. Come May 18, Oleksandr Usyk will challenge that legacy.
Tyson Fury rappelle à Usyk son incroyable changement physique le jour de leur match reporté et incontesté ! pic.twitter.com/DLNrZC1hNH
Since Francis Ngannou went the distance of 10 rounds against Tyson Fury in his debut match last year, many expected ‘The Predator’ to deliver yet another spectacular performance against Anthony Joshua. Meanwhile, calling himself “the underground king,” Ngannou even declared he would knock out ‘AJ’ with a clean shot. However, Joshua, labeling Ngannou as his “main focus,” considered the fight his “everything“.
Similarly, ‘AJ’ fought the fight, living up to his and his coach, Ben Davidson‘s expectations. In only the second round of the match, Anthony Joshua put Francis Ngannou to sleep. On that note, following the event, several professional boxers took to social media and lauded Joshua’s boxing.
Claressa Shields, Devin Haney, Nico Ali Walsh, and others praise Anthony Joshua’s stunning treatment of Francis Ngannou
After the bell rang, Anthony Joshua, despite being patient, did not waste his time. He kept Ngannnou, who hopes to have a rematch with Fury, surprised and guessing for as long as the duo fought. In the first round of the fight, after Ngannou shifted to the southpaw stance, Joshua measured the range and hit the former with a fast right hand to score the first knockdown of the fight. In the second round, with less than a minute left, ‘AJ’ knocked ‘The Predator’ down for the second time. And right after Ngannou stood up on his feet, Joshua landed a solid cross on Ngannou’s chin, which saw the latter’s soul leave the body.
Reacting to Joshua’s win, the grandson of Muhammad Ali, Nico Ali Walsh, said, “Really hope Francis is okay. No surprise by Joshua…”
On the other hand, Claressa Shields said, “Wow, boxing wins again.” However, she also appreciated Francis Ngannou’s efforts.
According to Stephen Espinoza, the result of Fury vs. Ngannou “said more about Fury than Ngannou.” In his opinion, it is not that Ngannou is an extraordinary boxer but, Fury did not fight ‘The Predator’ like he should have had in 2023.
Like I've been saying, the Fury-Ngannou result said more about Fury than Ngannou. But most people seemed intent on making it about something that it wasn't.
With that said, what do you have to say about Anthony Joshua’s KO win over Francis Ngannou? Do you think the cross he landed on Francis was impressive? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below. For more boxing updates,
THE MEN that have faced both Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury have predicted who they believe would win an all-British showdown.
AJ produced a brilliant second round knockout to demolish Francis Ngannou last Friday.
Anthony Joshua brutally knocked out Francis NgannouTyson Fury had been floored by the UFC legend just months earlier
That was his fourth win on the bounce as he continues his quest to try and become a three-time heavyweight world champion.
That was the first time that UFC legend Ngannou had been KOed in his career.
And it came just five months’ after he floored and then took WBC title holder Fury the distance in Saudi Arabia.
The Gypsy King is preparing to face Oleksandr Usyk on May 18 in order to unify the division, with a rematch clause inserted into the package.
Joshua is widely-believed to be set to face the winner of those showdowns.
And that means that there is the prospect of a potential gigantic tussle with compatriot and long-time rival Fury.
As well as Ngannou, who says he “would give it to AJ for right now” when quizzed about who would emerge victorious, four other men have been between the ropes with both.
They are Kevin Johnson, Dillian Whyte, Otto Wallin and Wladimir Klitschko – and here is who they believe would win the Battle of Britain clash:
KEVIN JOHNSON
The American lost to Fury in 2012 via unanimous decision and then courtesy of KO to Joshua three years later.
He predicted: “Tyson Fury has one thing that many people can’t beat.
Anthony Joshua (left) knocks down Kevin Johnson in May 2015
“It’s not skill, Anthony Joshua is definitely the more skillful fighter, but Tyson Fury is so long and in a safety zone with that reach and movement, he made Wladimir Klitschko look like an amateur.
“He didn’t do that because he has more skill, everybody knows that Klitschko would knock him out, but you’ve got to get past that reach.
“It’s like giving somebody a sniper rifle and asking somebody 20 yards away to run up on him.”
Tyson Fury (centre) celebrates defeating Kevin Johnson (right) in 2012
DILLIAN WHYTE
The Body Snatcher has just been cleared to return after an “adverse analytical finding” caused his rematch with Joshua to be cancelled last August.
He beat AJ in the amateurs, but suffered a seventh round KO when they met professionally in 2015 while he was brutally stopped in the sixth by Fury at Wembley in 2022.
AJ beat Dillian Whyte at The O2 in 2015
When asked previously about AJ vs Fury, Whyte said: “This is heavyweight boxing, man.
“Who would’ve said Hasim Rahman or Oliver McCall would have knocked out Lennox Lewis? It’s heavyweight boxing.
“Wladimir Klitschko lost to Ross Puritty, no-one even knows that guy. There’s a case for both guys winning this fight, I think. Both guys showed a lot of versatility in their fights.
“[Joshua’s] two fights with [Andy] Ruiz and [Fury’s] two fights with [Deontay] Wilder – they’re the same guys but they’re different styles and different ways of getting the victory.
“Joshua had a loss against Ruiz, Fury had a draw against Wilder. Then Fury came off the back foot, was aggressive and knocked Wilder out.
“And Joshua came off the front foot, got on the back foot and got a points decision against Andy Ruiz.
“You see what I’m saying? It’s hard, only true fans of each guy will say, ‘This guy’s gonna win.’ It’s very hard, I don’t think no boxing purist would say, ‘This guys gonna win because of this.’”
The Body Snatcher was brutally stopped by the Gypsy King with an upper cut
WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO
The legendary Ukrainian suffered a huge upset when Fury beat him in Germany in November 2015 on points to become heavyweight champ.
Klitschko and Joshua then produced a classic in front of 90,000 fans at Wembley seventeen months later as both stars hit the canvas in the rollercoaster clash.
Tyson Fury shocked the world back in November 2015 against Wladimir Klitschko
It was eventually AJ that delivered the finisher, knocking the veteran down tice in the 11th which resulted in the ref stopping it.
And Klitschko has no doubts who would win out of AJ vs Fury, saying: “Hands down Joshua.
“He is getting to be the complete fighter. Technically, size-wise, weight-wise, power-wise. And he is a good learner. The other guy [Fury], like a fart in the wind it is there and it is gone.
“In the history of boxing there are a lot of examples of this kind of guy. They can be successful for a time but are not disciplined enough to continue to be successful.
“I wish Tyson well but I think there is a lack of discipline there, and discipline is more important than motivation.
“Drawing from my experience I would say it is going to be very difficult for Tyson because there’s that lack of discipline.”
AJ and the Ukrainian produced a classic at Wembley in 2017
OTTO WALLIN
The Swede was only meant to be a tune-up for Fury ahead of his rematch with Wilder in 2019 but he almost caused a huge shock.
He caused a huge gash above the Gypsy King’s right eye that almost caused the doctor to step in, only for Fury to bravely battle on and get the decision before heading to hospital to receive 47 stitches.
But AJ suffered no scares against Wallin on December 23 at Day of Reckoning in Saudi Arabia as he dished out so much punishment that his rival’s corner was forced to throw in the towel after the fifth round.
On a potential fight between the Brits, Wallin said: “Well, I would say that this fight with Joshua was a lot tougher than the fight I had with Fury.
“It’s hard to say [what would happen in a fight between Fury and Joshua]. I think that Fury’s a very good fighter. Can probably pick it up from what he was doing in his last fight.
“It’s a decent fight. We’ll see what happens with Joshua now.
“He might be on to something really good with Ben Davison, and Ben obviously knows Tyson. I don’t know. There’s a lot of variables.
“I always said that Fury would win that fight, but now just being in with Joshua, I feel a little bit different.
“It’s hard to go against Tyson I think. But, I don’t know, it’s changed my mind a bit after this fight.”
After losing to both British heavyweights in the last six months
Francis Ngannou has weighed in on the long-contested debate over who would win if Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury ever faced off inside the ring.
Former UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou has fought both British heavyweights in the last six months, but fallen to defeats on both occasions, most recently to Joshua last Friday.
The Cameroonian fighter suffered a stunning second-round knockout loss against the former two-time heavyweight champion in Saudi Arabia, falling afoul of a stunning right from the Brit.
After hitting the deck twice already in the fight it proved too much for Ngannou to come back from, and he was seemingly unconscious by the time he hit the canvas for the third time on the night.
Against Fury, the MMA star made it the distance, with many talking up his credentials as a boxer after the surprising result, and as a veteran of both fights he is perhaps well placed to give his verdict on a potential winner.
After losing to AJ on Friday, Ngannou was asked who he backed to come out on top if the two ever crossed paths, he told iFL TV: ‘I don’t know, I would give it to AJ for right now.’
When asked about whether he was caught out by Joshua’s power, he added: ‘I think he got the right timing. It was about the timing, mostly.
Joshua has looked back to his best in his most recent fights, beating Otto Wallin in December after his corner threw in the towel, having stopped Robert Helenius in August 2023 for a first knockout win in almost three years.
However, following his win over Ngannou on Friday, Fury appeared to throw some shade at Joshua.
‘Me and Oleksandr Usyk have got an undisputed heavyweight world title fight coming up, and he’s just had a show fight – which is fantastic for the show, but for the actual real boxing it’s me and Usyk who fight for the No 1 position and undisputed,’ he told talkSPORT’s Michael Benson.
Joshua hit out at the Gypsy King in the wake of his second-round win, seemingly brushing off his compatriot’s comments and dubbing him a trash talker.
Joshua called Fury’s remarks about Ngannou ‘disrespectful’ after the MMA star ‘changed his life around’
Speaking to iFL TV, Joshua was asked about Fury’s reaction to his knockout and simply replied: ‘F*** Tyson Fury.’
He added: ‘You know what it is? I don’t like trash talking people but I heard him say something like “I’m here to do commentary about these two sausages”.
‘That guy that I fought (Ngannou), that he fought, is an ex-UFC heavyweight champion. A phenomenal story. Someone who changed his life around.
‘It’s too disrespectful. Forget anything about him.’
The stars came out for Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou.
AJ sent Ngannou to sleep in the second round of their thrilling crossover clash to save boxing’s reputation.
Joshua was congratulated by Mourinho and R9 at ringside after his stunning KO
The former heavyweight champion scored two early knockdowns before shutting off his adversary’s lights with a booming right hand at the Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudia Arabia on Friday night.
Jose Mourinho and the Brazilian Ronaldo were at ringside to witness the stunning stoppage – and both made their way up to the apron to congratulate the Brit.
While his training team began to unlace his gloves Joshua saw the football legends edging closer towards him and leaned over the ropes to acknowledge the pair.
“My guy, my guy,” said Joshua as he shook Mourinho’s hand.
“You’re incredible,” gushed the Portuguese manager.
Mourinho and Ronaldo weren’t the only big-name celebrities to turn out in Saudi Arabia.
Cristiano Ronaldo, was as always, in the front row while boxing icons Mike Tyson, Manny Pacquiao, David Haye and Kell Brook were all in attendance as well.
Ngannou’s former dance partner Tyson Fury, who struggled immensely against the Cameroonian cage fighter last October, was also front and centre for the clash.
Joshua stopped Ngannou in the second round of their crossover clash
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) March 9, 2024
Speaking on the DAZN broadcast in the immediate aftermath of AJ-Ngannou, he said: “I’m sure Oleksandr Usyk will have something to say something about that. I had a s*** performance against Ngannou.
“AJ did absolutely fantastic and lit him up with a right hand, if he fights me after I beat Usyk twice then it will be a different game.
“There is quite a long way to go, fantastic performance from AJ but I have bigger fish to fry.
“If we are both still available after my two fights with Usyk, let’s get it on.
“He has to keep active and maybe he can fight Filip Hrgovic for the vacant IBF belt.”
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