The search for Anthony Joshua’s next opponent goes on with Eddie Hearn stating that the former heavyweight world champion will next enter the ring in August, despite the wishes of Saudi Arabia’s Skill Challenge Promotions.
Joshua hasn’t fought since what many considered to be a laboured points victory over the fringe contender Jermaine Franklin back in April of this year.
The weeks and months since that fight – which was billed as ‘New Dawn’ – have brought nothing but speculation about the Olympic Gold Medalist’s next bout.
Tyson Fury has been in the frame briefly, but with that off the table and Eddie Hearn recently telling Boxing Social that negotiations with Dillian Whyte have ended without an agreement, ‘AJ’s team are now searching the rankings for a suitable dance partner.
Speaking to IFL TV, the Matchroom chief said the plan is still to fight in the summer, despite the fact that Skill Challenge would much prefer for him to wait it out for a Deontay Wilder fight later in the year.
“There’s two or three opponents that we’re looking at but I’m not going to tell you who they are. But we need to do it this week.
Saudi definitely doesn’t want us to fight in August, but we want to fight in August and I think it would be good for his career to fight in August, so that’s still the plan.”
With August just a matter of weeks away, Hearn and the team will have to move fast to secure a suitable fight for Joshua, who has still had only 12 rounds under the tutelage of his latest coach, Derrick James.
The fight with Wilder is expected to follow in December, with contracts to be exchanged soon. Of course, there’s a risk of those plans being derailed depending on the August opponent.