Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk, Deontay Wilder, Boxing
Ryan Smart
Topics: Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk, Deontay Wilder, Boxing
Anthony Joshua has confirmed he has a four-man shortlist for his next boxing fight amid rumours that he could take on Tyson Fury.
Joshua's last fight came on March 8, where he defeated Francis Ngannou via a stunning second-round knockout in Saudi Arabia.
That win over Ngannou, and his previous three victories over Otto Wallin, Robert Helenius and Jermaine Franklin, have re-established the Watford-born boxer as a key player in the heavyweight division following consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk.
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Usyk is scheduled to take on Fury in a heavyweight title unification bout, also in Saudi Arabia, on May 20. The fight had to be rescheduled after 'The Gypsy King' suffered a cut in sparring back in February.
Joshua has now announced that he will not face the winner of Usyk vs Fury, but will instead take on either victor of two other major heavyweight clashes.
The 34-year-old has confirmed he will face either the winner of Deontay Wilder vs Zhilei Zhang, or Filip Hrgovic vs Daniel Dubois.
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The match will take place on either September 20 or 21, and be staged at Wembley Stadium.
All four fighters would be first-time opponents for Joshua at professional level, with a fight against Wilder in particular having long been mooted by those involved with the sport.
But Wilder has lost two of his last three fights since his first defeat to Fury, including December's clash against Joseph Parker via unanimous decision.
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Hrgovic, meanwhile, is the mandatory challenger for Usyk's heavyweight titles, with the Ukrainian having beaten Dubois last year.
Usyk's promoter, Alexander Krassyuk, has confirmed that Hrgovic will take on Usyk in Riyadh if Fury pulls out of their planned fight for a second time inside three months.
He explained: "He is getting ready for Daniel Dubois on June 1, but instead he will have to be ready on May 18 to replace Tyson for any reason."
Speaking about the upcoming fight, Joshua stated: "The one who looks the best, Turki Alalshikh told me, 'I want you to fight him'."