Anthony Joshua is looking to make some big fights over the next year should he come through Jermaine Franklin.
The two-time unified world champion lost his belts to Oleksandr Usyk and failed to win them back in an immediate rematch in October of 2022, and is now just days away from his comeback fight.
Speaking to Dan Rafael on Big Fight Weekend, Joshua said that, whilst the world titles are still important to him, he wants to fight his generation’s big names regardless.
“It’s actually a mixture. The title’s massive. Everything comes with that. But at the same time, it hurts because I’ve done that – I’ve won the titles – but it feels like you’re still proving yourself.”
“It’s a balance … But there’s a few names that I would like to pursue in the next six to twelve months.”
Asked if those names were Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury, ‘AJ’ said that the former was more realistic.
“It seems like Deontay Wilder’s more realistic, because I just think that the stuff that goes on with Fury is a bit crazy, man.
I’ve been in this situation for a long time – even with them two I’ve been in this same situation – but I just feel like Deontay’s coming to a stage in his career where he’s realistic.”
Joshua had a run-in with Fury last year when the pair failed to make a fight happen after very public negotiations. The same thing has happened again with Fury this year – his team and Usyk’s unable to come to an agreement for an undisputed fight.
Finally, ‘AJ’ added Joe Joyce’s name into the mix. The pair fought in the amateurs in 2011 with Joshua winning by first round stoppage – something Joyce has been keen to avenge, particularly recently.
“There’s another fight that I’m looking at – Joe Joyce, as well.”
First up for Joshua is Franklin, though, who is coming to London to win on April 1. UK and US fans can tune in on DAZN.