Anthony Joshua backtracks on plan as Eddie Hearn teases subsequent battle
Anthony Joshua has declared his subsequent battle may but happen in July or August – offering he has the approval of his new coach Derrick James – as Eddie Hearn seems to be set to start formal talks over a rematch with Dillian Whyte. It comes only a few weeks after AJ shocked boxing followers by declaring he wouldn’t be again in motion till December after beating American Jermaine Franklin on factors on the O2 Arena on April 1.
Nonetheless, it seems Joshua is now ready to backtrack on the assertion as Eddie Hearn continues to carry discussions with Deontay Wilder’s promotional group over a blockbuster December showdown in Saudi Arabia.
Two two-time heavyweight world champion informed Sky Sports: “I’m a thinker… maybe an over-thinker.
“I thought as I’ve changed maybe three coaches in three years, it would be good to develop and work under the guidance of my new coach and by the time I’m back in the ring, I’ve cemented and implemented everything he wants.
“But, the only way we’re going to put everything he’s teaching me to the test is through fighting, but rather than putting pressure on myself, I just wanted to draw a line in the sand and say I’m not fighting until this date.
“If I, my coach, decide to change my mind… I feel I’m able to change my mind right? So I’m able to fight in July or August if I want but right now it’s off the table, but we are subject to change providing my coach is happy with what he sees.”
Joshua is evidently eager to make sure he stays energetic following two irritating years that noticed him endure consecutive defeats to unified world champion Oleksandr Usyk.
Joshua had beforehand declared his curiosity in an all-British showdown with Joe Joyce whereas different choices resembling Joseph Parker, Otto Wallin and Zhilei Zhang seemed to have been on the desk.
As ever in boxing, issues change rapidly nevertheless and now Zhang is basically anticipated to rematch Joyce after stopping The Juggernaut in a monumental upset on the Copper Box Arena earlier this month.
A rematch with long-term rival Whyte additionally stays a powerful likelihood and Matchroom chief Hearn lately declared he hopes to make the mouthwatering matchup between his two fighters later this summer season.
“It’s very likely that we’ll make Dillian an offer to fight AJ in July,” Hearn informed iFL TV.
“That’s the battle that might make sense [for Joshua]. We would go to a stadium. You have the UFC that simply pulled out of July twenty second.
“We go 29th, August 26th, or something like that. We may go the first week of August but again, until we have these meetings next week, I just can’t give you the answers on that. I think we’re going to London.”
Elsewhere, Tyson Fury is predicted to return to the ring in July with Andy Ruiz Jr and Big Bang Zhang two of the names inside his crosshairs.
Usyk can be set to face Daniel Dubois this summer season after the world title defence was ordered by the WBO.
The two heavyweight champions, Fury and Usyk, had seemed heading in the right direction to collide in Saudi Arabia this summer season for all of the marbles earlier than battle negotiations collapsed within the remaining levels.
Usyk’s group walked away from talks over what they conisdered to be unreasonable calls for concerning the potential break up of a rematch.