Anthony Joshua has already lined up who he will fight after Francis Ngannou.
Joshua is preparing to take on MMA fighter Ngannou in Saudi Arabia in March, with the Watford-born heavyweight plotting a path to eventually take on Tyson Fury in what would be among the most eagerly anticipated bouts in history.
Joshua was beaten by Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and 2022, losing his WBO, IBF, and WBA belts in the process. Since then, Joshua has been on a redemption arc, beating Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius and Otto Wallin as he looks to return to boxing’s summit.
He is now set to take on Ngannou, who controversially lost to Fury in December by split decision.
Should Joshua claim a victory against the MMA’s hardest puncher, however, he may be forced to wait before facing Fury.
Saudi adviser Turki Alalshikh – who has been in charge of delivering major boxing events to the Gulf state – admitted that Joshua was in talks to face Croatian Filip Hrgović rather than his compatriot.
When asked if the winner of Joshua vs Ngannou remained in line to fight the victor of Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk, Turki Alalshikh told SBN: “I’ll tell you a secret – what is in my mind. If Ngannou wins, you know he will have a rematch against the champion [Fury].
“If Joshua wins, then it will take a long time for the winner of Tyson vs Usyk to face [the 34-year-old] as they’ll have a rematch.
“We’re thinking and discussing with the Joshua camp and [Filip] Hrgović camp, to maybe have a fight between them.”
Fury’s undisputed heavyweight title fight with Usyk has been rearranged for 18 May.
The bout was originally due to take place on February 17 in Saudi Arabia, but it was postponed this week after the Fury suffered a “freak cut” above the eye in training.
Daniel Dubois has the opportunity to win one of the few titles Anthony Joshua has never held.
Daniel Dubois has been ordered by the EBU to face Ryad Merhy for the vacant European heavyweight title – a belt Anthony Joshua rejected the opportunity to fight for earlier in his career. Dubois was unable to win the European strap when he fought for it against Joe Joyce back in November 2020 but he has now been given a second bite at the cherry.
Daniel Dubois has been ordered to box for the EBU belt
The Brit is coming off arguably the best win of his career over Jarrell Miller on the ‘Day of Reckoning’ bill in Saudi Arabia and is looking to get his name back into the world title picture again following an unsuccessful shot at Oleksandr Usyk’s WBA (Super), IBF and WBO heavyweight titles.
Merhy is also flying high after a big win over Olympic gold medalist Tony Yoka in his last outing. The Belgian boxer, who is 32-2 in the paid ranks, beat Yoka via a split decision two months ago in France as he bounced back from a loss to Kevin Lerena.
Lerena was, of course, knocked out by Dubois in 2022 when Triple D picked himself up off the canvas three times in the opening round to stop the South African puncher in the third stanza.
Dubois has been called to face Ryad Merhy
A win over Merhy wouldn’t do much to improve his standings with the four major boxing sanctioning bodies but the allure of a European title may be enough to tempt Dubois into taking up the challenge. The European title remains one of the few belts that Joshua hasn’t got his hands on during his glistening professional career.
He was given the opportunity to fight for the strap against Derek Chisora in 2016 but rejected the order so that he could land himself a shot at Charles Martin’s IBF belt instead. “Unfortunately Joshua did not accept to dispute the EBU title.” confirmed EBU General Secretary Enza Jacoponi at the time. “So the vacant title will be disputed between Derek Chisora and Kubrat Pulev.”
Anthony Joshua rejected the opportunity to box for the EBU belt for a shot at the IBF title in 2016
AJ went on to win the world title from Martin in one of the most dominant showings of his career, stopping the American in the second round in front of a packed-out O2 Arena.
Meanwhile, Chisora was beaten over the distance by Pulev in Germany although Del Boy would exact his revenge six years later when he defeated his old foe on home soil. Chisora is now represented by Joshua’s 258 Management and is good friends with the Watford powerhouse.
Turki Alalshikh is open to financially backing an Anthony Joshua-Tyson Fury fight even if Fury loses twice to Oleksandr Usyk.
The chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, which has fully funded many of the biggest fights in boxing over the past few months, won’t abandon bouts he believes boxing fans will still want to see even if fighters lose. Alalshikh still sees a way to put together a Joshua-Deontay Wilder fight, which would’ve finally taken place March 8 at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh had Joseph Parker not upset Wilder by unanimous decision in their 12-rounder December 23 at Kingdom Arena.
The 42-year-old Alalshikh will take the same approach to Fury-Joshua if Usyk defeats Fury in their heavyweight title unification fight February 17 at Kingdom Arena. England’s Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs) and Ukraine’s Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) have reportedly agreed to a two-fight deal, thus the loser could exercise his right to an immediate rematch later this year.
Unless Fury-Usyk results in a draw or no-contest, the winner would become the sport’s first fully unified heavyweight champion of the four-belt era. If Fury wins, he would need to beat Usyk twice before securing a long-discussed, highly anticipated showdown with Joshua (27-3, 24 KOs), who will need to defeat Francis Ngannou (0-1) on March 8 to maintain his place in the Fury fight or even a third fight versus Usyk.
If Cameroon’s Ngannou upsets England’s Joshua, who has opened as a 6-1 favorite to beat the former UFC heavyweight champ, and Fury defeats Usyk, a Fury-Ngannou rematch obviously would become the once-unforeseen fight to make for the IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC and WBO titles. Ngannou stunningly pushed Fury in his professional boxing debut, during which he floored Fury with a left hook late in the third round, yet lost a 10-round split decision October 28 at Kingdom Arena.
Alalshikh offered his perspective on those potential heavyweight fights during a wide-ranging interview with DAZN’s Ade Oladipo, which was posted to the streaming service’s website and social media platforms Wednesday.
“We want to see Fury-Usyk and the result, and the rematch between Fury [and] Usyk,” Alalshikh said. “And after that, we want to see Tyson Fury against Ngannou, or the people want to see it. And we want to see, if Fury [wins], we want to see him against Joshua if Joshua [wins]. If Usyk [wins], maybe we have [a] chance to have the third fight. And even if Usyk [wins], the people still want to see Tyson against Joshua. This is what we want to deliver to the market. And we close a lot of things about this.”
With strong support from Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and its crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, Alalshikh aggressively has gone about offering the type of purses required to make fights like Fury-Usyk, Fury-Ngannou, Joshua-Ngannou, Joshua-Otto Wallin, Parker-Wilder and Parker (34-3, 23 KOs) against WBO interim champ Zhilei Zhang (26-1-1, 21 KOs), the co-feature of the March 8 pay-per-view event that’ll be headlined by Joshua and Ngannou.
“We are coming with new strategy,” Alalshikh said, “and new idea and new vision … to do and deliver to the market the best [fights], with good price, and make the [fights] that people want to see. We don’t want to waste time. Tyson Fury is 35 now, around 35. Joshua is around 33, I think. Usyk [is] around 36, Wilder 38, 37. Artur [Beterbiev] now 39, next week. Why we are losing time?
“The people need to see Joshua-Fury, Fury-Joshua, need to see Joshua-Wilder. And I hope Wilder [comes] back. You know, and there is rumor, and you know it, the fight was between Joshua and Wilder [for March 8]. But you see the result and the body condition of Wilder now. It would not be reasonable to have the fight now. We want him to come back. And I see Parker, what he’s doing, amazing show, and he’s one of the best boxer [who has come back] now, this year.”
A win for Fury against Oleksnadr Usyk means he could fight Joshua for the undisputed belts if ‘AJ’ gets past Francis Ngannou and Tyson has already predicted who would win
If Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua do finally meet in the ring this year, Mike Tyson has backed ‘The Gypsy King’ to get the last laugh.
The domestic rivals are on a collision course to settle their feud if they both win their upcoming fights in Saudi Arabia. Fury will look to become the first undisputed heavyweight world champion since 1999 when he meets Oleksandr Usyk on February 17th whilst Joshua aims to extend his unbeaten streak to four fights against former UFC champion Francis Ngannou on March 8.
Tyson admitted that ‘AJ’ might be the biggest puncher in the heavyweight division but explained why his power could be useless against Fury. “I love Joshua, but I think Tyson’s too elusive, he’s not going to hit him. We’re keeping it honest right? I like Joshua a lot and Joshua maybe punches harder than [Deontay] Wilder, but he doesn’t punch faster than Wilder.
Tyson admitted that ‘AJ’ might be the biggest puncher in the heavyweight division but explained why his power could be useless against Fury. “I love Joshua, but I think Tyson’s too elusive, he’s not going to hit him. We’re keeping it honest right? I like Joshua a lot and Joshua maybe punches harder than [Deontay] Wilder, but he doesn’t punch faster than Wilder.
Tyson’s prediction came at a time when Fury and Joshua signed contracts for an undisputed fight, but an arbitration case meant Fury had to fight Wilder for the third time and Joshua went on to lose his world titles to Usyk. Joshua’s promoter Hearn is praying that Fury can get past Usyk next month to be one step closer to the undisputed domestic clash.
“The winner of this fight gets the winner of Fury vs Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight world championship. For Ngannou, he could become an undisputed champion in just his third fight,” Hearn told TNT Sports. “For us and AJ, we have dreamed about that for so many years. I said to him before the face-off, ‘Two wins and you are undisputed champion’.
“I believe he is going to do it, I really do. I believe he is going to beat Tyson Fury and I believe he is going to beat Tyson Fury. I love Oleksandr Usyk, but I will just say Tyson Fury you have to win this fight. Once he beats Ngannou, we have to make this fight happen. It’s so exciting for boxing we have a path and plan for brilliant fights.”
Ricky Hatton has raised a concern over Tyson Fury ahead of his mega undisputed fight with Oleksandr Usyk.
Hatton reckons Fury’s ‘lifestyle’ could mean he has ‘too many miles on the clock’ heading into the bout.
Fury and Usyk will finally step into the ring in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on February 17.
The pair have been trash-talking each other for a couple of years but the fight was finally signed last November.
Tyson Fury will fight Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia in February
They will put all their belts on the line in one of the most eagerly-anticipated matches in modern boxing history.
Hatton then hopes Fury will enter the ring with fellow Brit Anthony Joshua at some point in the future.
However, he has concerns that Fury’s past may eventually catch up with him.
The 35-year-old has not been shy in detailing his huge weight loss during his break away from the sport.
Fury has since returned and had 10 fights since 2018, including a trilogy against Deontay Wilder.
Fury was sluggish last time out against Francis Ngannou.
And Hatton is worried about possible long-term effects Fury could be suffering from.
He told OLBG: “You don’t get a bigger fight [than Fury v Joshua].
“It’s one of the biggest fights in British boxing history. It’s a great clash of styles.
“Tyson’s always in entertaining fights, so is AJ [Joshua], and it was only a couple of fights ago we thought [Joshua’s] best days were behind him but in his last couple of fights, he has looked really impressive.
Tyson Fury struggled in his last fight against Francis Ngannou
“But Tyson on the other hand has been the best heavyweight for a good number of years and I still have him as number one, but we just need to know what Tyson has got left.
“Don’t forget it’s not just the three Wilder fights, it’s the lifestyle he’s had as well where he’s had to lose ten stone in the past and what it does to the body and then having them three wars with Deontay Wilder.
“It might be too many miles on the clock for Tyson or maybe he took him lightly because he didn’t look in the best shape.”
Many felt MMA fighter Ngannou deserved the judges’ decision against Fury in his first professional boxing fight last October.
Ngannou will face Joshua in Saudi Arabia in March.
But he has firmly his eyes set on a rematch with Fury by October this year.
Ngannou told MMA Fighting: “I win this fight [against Joshua] and I’m fighting Fury period.
“Whether or not he has the belt. Our rematch term was within next year, so it’s going to be October this year.
“I just want to be free and fight, the thing is with the title is this is a system I don’t want to fall into anymore.
“You have to make a concession with an organization, I don’t want that political stuff.”
Ricky Hatton has doubts over a future Tyson Fury v Anthony Joshua fight
Ngannou said in a separate interview with TMZ Sports: “I’m not looking for the winner of Tyson Fury (and Usyk). I’m looking for Tyson.
“Tyson owes me a fight. I don’t give a s**t about the winner of Usyk and Tyson. I’m coming after Tyson. Win or lose, I want Tyson.”
AJ will be watching next month, and he’s finally made his official pick for the superfight in the heavyweight division.
Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has finally made his official prediction for the Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk superfight taking place next month, and he’s gone with his former opponent Usyk to get the job done, as per Boxing Social.
When asked about the unification fight, which will take place on the 17th of February for all the heavyweight gold, AJ said: “I don’t know. “I’ve fought Usyk. I think he’s a phenomenal fighter and I think he has a great team around him.
“You’re only as good as your team, and he has a great team around him. After being in the ring with him and studying him, still studying him now, I think he’s the one to edge it. Probably because of his experiences, his ring generalship, and ring craft. I think he’s top-tier.”
Anthony Joshua & Tyson Fury don’t see eye-to-eye
It is not surprising that Anthony Joshua has come out and publicly backed the Ukrainian fighter, after supposedly being continually disrespected by Fury in the past.
“I don’t know, but I’m team Usyk anyway,” he confirmed. “[There’s] a respect, but Fury’s said a lot of bad things about me. I’m never going to ride with someone that disrespects me. That would make me a lunatic, and I’m pretty level-headed. So I’m going to go with the person who shows me respect.”
Despite tension between Fury and Joshua, they have never actually fought. Many boxing fans have called for a fight, proposing what would undoubtedly be the biggest fight in British boxing history, but for one reason or another, it’s a fight that has simply never been made. We came so, so close the other year, but Deontay Wilder had other plans, activating his right for a rematch against Fury, which all-but ended discussions of an all-British heavyweight superfight.
AJ knows what Usyk can bring to the ring Joshua lost both fights to Usyk via the judges’ scorecards
Despite not sharing the ring with The Gypsy King, Joshua has got experience of fighting Uysk, on two separate occasions, to be exact. The former cruiserweight world champion is a seasoned winner, never tasting defeat in his professional career and defeating AJ both times they’ve faced off. The first fight was won via unanimous decision, and the rematch was then won via split decision, showcasing just how good the Ukrainian really is.
The much awaited fight will take place next month, on the 17th of February, at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudia Arabia, with fans, fighters, and experts alike all being split on their predictions of who will become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
‘The Gypsy King’ has more experience than Usyk, despite only being one year older, and has won 13 more fights than his upcoming opponent, however, both boxers have never lost. The Brit, though, has drawn once to Wilder, with Usyk never having drawn and always leaving the ring victorious.
Usyk’s strengths lie in his technical brilliance, fast footwork, and creativity, and he often relies on accumulative damage over knockouts to defeat his opponents. Fury, on the other hand, has obvious height and reach advantages, and is somewhat an unpredictable fighter. He carefully studies and tailors his boxing style to each opponent, and has a diverse technical ability which could pose a problem for Usyk.
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are set to fight next month to crown the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis.
Usyk brings the WBA, WBO and IBF belts to the table, pitted against Fury’s WBC for the historic contest that will, in many minds, show the best of a generation.
With two tricky styles, the fight could be won on game-plan alone, and thus a lot of eyes are on how each man prepares. Someone who knows them in the gym well is Martin Bakole.
The heavyweight contender is a regular sparring partner of Fury’s – although not for this particular bout – and has claimed to have stopped Usyk in the gym in the past.
Speaking to IFL TV, Bakole said he can see a path to victory for both of his former sparring partners but ultimately sat on the fence when it comes to the final result.
This is a hard question. Very hard question. 50/50. On points I can see Usyk, and knockout, it maybe a surprise, but the Gypsy King. Because he has to fix his mistakes, you know, people judge him against Ngannou. Imagine if he stops Usyk, they will say that the Ngannou fight was a little bit of a mistake, he didn’t take it serious.”
“It’s so hard because I know Usyk is world class. Top class movement. But the Gypsy King … I’ll go draw for me.”
Whilst Usyk has put an open call out for sparring partners who feel they can emulate the giant Brit, Fury’s camp has spoken to cruiserweight king Jai Opetaia as well as rising heavyweight star Moses Itauma.
Many fans feel both men showed vulnerabilities in their last outings, making this one, set for Riyadh on February 17, all the more intriguing.
Fury and Usyk’s undisputed heavyweight world title fight is just six weeks away but former champion Shawn Porter doesn’t think it will take place
Tyson Fury has been predicted to pull out of his undisputed heavyweight world title fight against Oleksandr Usyk.
Fury takes on fellow world champion Usyk for all of the marbles at heavyweight on February 17th in Saudi Arabia. The Brit is hoping for a more convincing performance than in his last fight as former UFC champion Francis Ngannou came close to beating him last October. Fury had to pick himself up off the canvas in that fight to win by just one point in a controversial decision.
The undisputed fight is just over six weeks away but retired world champion Shawn Porter is still unconvinced it will go ahead. “Even with the fight being signed sealed and delivered I don’t feel like this is the kind of energy that he wants to that he wants to exert any more in the boxing ring,” Porter told ProBox TV.
“You look at a guy like Tyson Fury, a guy who has been around this track so many times. I think that a fighter will get to a point where they see the hardest night ahead of them and they’re like, ‘Man, I just had so many of those hard nights, I am not going to have that hard night’.
“What we know about Tyson Fury is that he is a showman, what we know about Tyson Fury is that he likes things to be his way or no way. Which is why he went after Francis Ngannou, because those are the kind of fights that he is looking for. He is looking for things that are going to give him the money and the recognition and the nights that he is not going to have to train hard for anymore.”
Fury flew out to Saudi Arabia on New Year’s Eve to continue his preparations for the fight but confused fans after releasing a video that was seemingly filmed in England just days later. Little has been heard on Usyk’s end in recent weeks whilst Fury has continued his verbal assault of the Ukrainian.
“Another big day of running in the f****ng mountains! Come on! Easy work, smashing Usyk’s little rabbit face right in for him. Useless piece of s***,” Fury said in a recent clip mocking Usyk as he captioned the post: “Working hard for the undisputed heavyweight championship 2024” along with the hashtag “run rabbit run”
Anthony Joshua is starting to look back to his best and is eyeing some big fights in 2024 after dispatching Otto Wallin.
AJ turned in a top display to stop the Swede in Saudi Arabia just before Christmas to make it three wins from three since back-to-back defeats against Oleksandr Usyk.
Joshua was in fine form against Wallin
The plan was for Joshua to face Deontay Wilder should he beat Joseph Parker, but the American lost via unanimous decision to leave those plans in tatters.
Anthony Joshua next fight: Is his next opponent confirmed?
No, Joshua’s next bout is yet to be confirmed.
The plan was for Joshua and Wilder to win their respective fights to set up a huge event in March 2024 between the two former world champions.
The deal between the two camps was all but agreed, but after Wilder’s defeat, those plans are ruined.
Instead, a date with Croatian heavyweight Filip Hrgovic looks to be AJ’s next bout.
Hrgovic is the IBF’s current number one, and a mandatory challenge for that belt is long overdue.
Of course, Tyson Fury is fighting Usyk for that title in early 2024.
However, the duo have signed a two-fight deal, meaning the IBF belt will become vacant before their rematch, so Joshua would face Hrgovic for that title.
Hrgovic will probably be AJ’s next opponent
Meanwhile, Frank Warren suggested that Joshua should face Daniel Dubois.
The Brit recovered from his controversial defeat to Usyk to stop Jarrell Miller on the same card as Joshua’s fight against Wallin.
So that’s an option for AJ as well.
However, a potentially more glamorous bout than either of those two would be a clash against the winner of Fury vs Usyk.
Joshua has yet to face Fury in his career despite several rounds of talks over the years, but for whatever reason, it’s never happened.
It’s a fight that would capture the general public and could see the debate about who is better finally settled.
Fury and Joshua would be a massive fight
And if Usyk wins, you would think this new-look Joshua would love a crack at some revenge.
He’s faced the Ukrainian twice and comfortably lost both times, so he would want to right that wrong.
Therefore, there are plenty of options open to Joshua.
Anthony Joshua fight: When will it happen?
Joshua would have faced Wilder in Saudi Arabia on March 9, 2024, if all had gone to plan.
Of course, Wilder lost, so that looks to be off.
Any title fight with Hrgovic would have to wait until after Fury and Usyk’s clash on February 17, 2024.
That would also be the same if he were to fight the winner of that superstar fight.
Therefore, unless Joshua takes on Dubois, we could be waiting until mid-2024 to see AJ back in action.
Joshua is ready to take on anyone
Anthony Joshua next fight: What’s been said?
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, confirmed after the Day of Reckoning in Saudi Arabia that a date with Hrgovic was most likely to be AJ’s next bout.
He said: “It was a tough decision between the championship and Wilder.
“We signed for Wilder, he lost tonight.
“But maybe it’s a blessing because he wants to become a three-time heavyweight world champion.
“Now it’s gonna be AJ vs Hrgovic for the world title.”
Hearn wants to see Fury and Joshua finally clash, although thinks Hrgovic is more likely
However, Hearn also revealed he wants to see AJ face Fury.
He said: “I’ll be honest, I’d love to see him fight Fury.
“If Tyson Fury can beat Oleksandr Usyk, then I’d love to see him fight Tyson Fury. I’d love that fight.
“I hope that Tyson can be triumphant in that fight, but we’ll go away now – obviously coming into tonight, we had our plans for March, but now we reassess.”
Meanwhile, Warren is really pushing Dubois.
Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT, he said: “For me, [Dubois] could fight any of those guys in the top ten. Even AJ would be a good fight. I’d watch that all day long.”
But AJ wants Fury.
Speaking immediately after dispatching Wallin, he was asked about his next opponent and said: “100 per cent Tyson Fury, but I’m not dodging Hrgovic, by the way.
Mike Tyson has made a new prediction for the upcoming Tyson Fury versus Oleksandr Usyk fight but has caveated it with the warning that he ‘could be wrong.’
After many months of speculation, a firm date was finally announced for the first undisputed heavyweight match-up in 24 years. Fury and Usyk will come to blows on February 17 when the WBC, WBC, IBF and WBO belts, plus the lineal title, will all be on the line.
The fight was originally planned for December 23 but in light of Fury’s battle with MMA fighter turned boxing novice Francis Ngannou – who enlisted ‘Iron’ Mike to help him train and has since been ranked by the WBC – it was pushed back to give him time to recover.
As such the excitement is already building for when the two best in the division come together. The fight presents Ukrainian southpaw Usyk with a chance to become undisputed in a second division following his achieving that feat down a cruiserweight, a similar achievement to one made by Evander Holyfield.
Speaking to FightHub TV, Tyson was asked who he thought would come out on top – and is picking ‘The Gypsy King’.
“I’m gunna look forward to that fight. I’m going with Tyson Fury, I think he’s going to overpower him, catch up with him and overpower him, that’s what I think but I could be wrong.”
Tyson, who was used to being the smaller man throughout his heavyweight career, was asked about the impact of facing shorter opponents.
“Little guys are difficult to fight ’cause they’re harder to hit ’cause they’re smaller. He runs a lot, he moves a lot, Tyson’s probably gunna have a few rounds to get used to his moments but it’s gunna be difficult, he’s very small, very fast.”
Whatever happens, the boxing world doesn’t have long to wait to find out.
