Eddie Hearn has revealed eight potential options being considered for Anthony Joshua’s next fight this summer if his top target, Tyson Fury, decides to stay out of retirement.
Fury abruptly retired this week in an unexpected move after losing to unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in their December 21 rematch. Hearn still thinks Fury isn’t serious and just wants to be lured back with a big offer.
Hearn’s shortlist
If Tyson remains retired, Hearn says the options down the line are possible targets for AJ to fight for in the summer.
– Dillian White
– Joseph Parker
– Daniel Dubois
– Martin Bakole
– Zhilei Zhang
– Agit Kabayel
– Deontay Wilder
Some of those names seem unlikely, given that Hearn has said he doesn’t want Joshua to fight anyone “no commercial use.” That pretty much rules out Bakole, Zhang, Caballero and Parker.
AJ’s realistic options
The only fighters on the list where Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) makes good money are White, Deontay and Dubois. Former WBC heavyweight champion Wilder, 39, looks exhausted and has lost four of his last five fights. However, AJ is also considered cracked. So a feud between him and Deontay wouldn’t be bad. Still, boxing fans would boo Joshua if he fought Wilder. Hearn would never hear the end of it.
“He would be in favor of fighting Bakola.” He is ready to fight anyone. We got to watch the big fights. I don’t want him to fight an uphill battle without commercial benefit. “I wouldn’t be doing my job,” Eddie Hearn said Secondsoutspeaking of Anthony Joshua. “He’s not so focused on money, but I am.”
“I would like Bakole in Africa.” Dillian White in London. Deontai in America. Winner of Kabayela vs. Zhang. I’m just telling you names before someone says it’s a possibility because I have no idea. Deontay Wilder, Dillian White, Martin Bacole.
“For me, the ones that really push him to do that are Tyson Fury and the winner of Dubois vs. Parker.” That doesn’t mean he won’t get up for other fights. He will fight this summer. It’s simple,” Hearn said.
Bakole is a threat
I don’t know why Hearn bothered to mention Martin Bakole’s name because he knows he would never let Joshua near a knockout artist. After the way Bakole destroyed America’s top heavyweight, Jared Anderson, on August 3rd, Hearn didn’t dare let AJ fight him.
“When Bakole called him out the other day, I think that was just fine for AJ. He was kind of down in the dumps. Anyone would be a winner when they beat them, and I think that gave him some support. He would be ready to fight Bakola. “He always did,” Hearn said.
