Eddie Hearn has revealed the eight potential options being considered for Anthony Joshua's next fight this summer if his primary target, Tyson Fury, chooses to remain retired.
Fury suddenly retired this week in an unexpected move after losing to unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in a rematch on December 21. Hearn still believes Fury is not serious and is just looking to tempt him with a big offer.
Hearn shortlist
If Tyson remains retired, Hearn says the options below are potential targets for AJ to fight in the summer.
– Dillian Whyte
-Joseph Parker
-Daniel Dubois
-Martin Bacoli
– Chili Zhang
– Ajit Kabyle
-Deontay Wilder
Some of these names may seem unlikely, given Hearn has said he doesn't want Joshua to fight anyone “There is no commercial benefit.” This largely rules out Bacoli, Chang, Kabyle, and Parker.
AJ's realistic options
The only fighters on the list that Joshua (28-4, 25 KO) has made good money are White, Deontay, and Dubois. Former WBC heavyweight champion Wilder, 39, looks washed out and has lost four of his last five fights. However, AJ is also torn. So, a fight between him and Deontay wouldn't be bad. However, boxing fans will mock Joshua if he fights Wilder. Hearn would never hear the end of it.
“He'll be ready to fight Bacolli. He's ready to fight anyone. We have to look at the big fights. I don't want him to have a tough fight without any commercial benefit. I'm not going to do my job,” Eddie Hearn said. secondSpeaking of Anthony Joshua. “He doesn't focus much on money, but I do.
“I like Bakole in Africa. Dillian Whyte in London. Deontay in America. Kabylie vs. Chang winner. I'm just telling you the names now before anyone says it's a possibility because I have no idea. Deontay Wilder, Dillian Whyte, Martin Bakole.
“For me, the people who really pushed him into it are Tyson Fury and the winner of Dubois vs. Parker. That doesn't mean he won't prepare for other fights. He will fight this summer. That's simple,” Hearn said.
Bakul is a threat
I don't know why Hearn bothered to mention Martin Bakool's name because he knows he will never let Joshua get close to a heavy knockout artist. After the way Pacoli destroyed America's best heavyweight, Jared Anderson, on August 3rd, Hearn didn't dare let AJ fight him.
“When Baccoli called him out the other day, I think that was very good for AJ. He was kind of down in the dumps. Every guy is going to be a winner when he gets beat, and I think that got him backed up a little bit. He'll be ready to fight Baccoli,” Hearn said. “He always did.”
