Who Will Anthony Joshua Be Fighting Next?
Over the past four years, Anthony Joshua has risen to the top in the world of boxing, lifting several heavyweight titles, including the IBF, WBA, and WBO. This has cemented him as one of the most successful boxers of his generation and has garnered him a massive fan base worldwide, with millions of viewers tuning in to watch every time he fights.
Just when you thought Joshua couldn’t be touched, he suffered consecutive losses against Oleksandr Usyk. After these fights, there was a new champion in town, and Joshua had to reclaim his title as the best boxer in the world. His next fight against Jermaine Franklin at the start of 2023 had many people who were interested in placing online sports bets confused as they weren’t sure if Joshua could still perform. This fight was going to be his first hurdle on his journey back to glory. If Joshua lost this fight, many people would start to doubt his future as a boxer at the highest level.
Thankfully for Anthony Joshua, he managed to defeat Oleksandr, proving to everyone that he wasn’t ready to give up any time soon and still had plenty of fight left in him. Now that he has completed his first step back to redemption, it is time to move on to bigger names in the boxing world, but who would match up to Joshua?
Anthony Joshua’s next fight
Anthony Joshua’s promoter set out a three-year plan at the start of 2023, which would start with a fight against a boxer ranked among the top 15 boxers in the world. This fighter was Jermaine Franklin, who Joshua convincingly defeated at the start of April this year. Now it is time for Joshua to continue his winning streak and take on another boxer to climb the boxing ladder.
Dillian Whyte was the first boxer meant to be Anthony Joshua’s second opponent in 2023, estimated to occur at some point in the summer. Some other names were floating around as potential opponents, with the likes of Joy Joyce and Otto Wallin coming up in conversation. It was a common consensus that Joshua would need a few more fights before he could come up against some of the greats again, such as Deatonay Wilder and Tyson Fury.
Eddie Hearn confirmed suspicions that Dillian Whyte was likely to be Joshua’s next opponent in the ring; however, the date at which this fight would likely take place and the likely opponent has changed. Initially, it was thought that Joshua would fight Whyte in the summer of 2023. News came from an Instagram post from Anthony Joshua, who confirmed that he would be fighting in December of this year instead and would no longer be fighting Dillian Whyte. Instead, Joshua believes he is ready to take on either of the boxing giants, Deaontay Wilder or Tyson Fury. No reasons were given for this sudden change of heart and plan. However, what we do know now is that Joshua’s next fight has become extremely important and most likely career-defining.
Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua has always been a massive fight, and with everything that is at stake, this will be one of the biggest fights in British boxing history. Back in December 2022, a rematch between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury was almost finalized; however, both teams couldn’t come to an agreement. Following Anthony Joshua’s victory over Franklin at the start of April, the discussion around the possibility of a fight against Fury was reignited.
Tyson Fury was planned to fight Oleksandr Usyk, but plans appear to be falling through, leaving Anthony Joshua as an appropriate replacement. A fight between the two would keep up the hype in the boxing world, as many fans have wanted a rematch ever since Fury defeated Joshua.
However, Fury is not the only fighter being discussed as a potential next opponent for Joshua. Deontay Wilder would also be a suitable match, as both Wilder and Joshua are coming back following consecutive defeats to Fury for the world title. If a fight between Joshua and Wilder was to happen, it is likely to take place in the Autumn of this year. Deontay Wilder is a former world champion looking to reclaim his title as one of the best boxers in the world. Following his victory against Robert Helenius, he is sitting in a similar position to Anthony Joshua.
Date of Anthony Joshua’s next fight
The date for Anthony Joshua’s next fight is unconfirmed, but it is most likely to take place in December 2023. Although it was previously thought that Joshua would be fighting at some time in July, he has let fans know via Instagram that December will be when his next fight will happen.
