Anthony Joshua has made it clear that his final goal in the sport of boxing is to become a three-time world heavyweight champion.
‘AJ’ briefly lost his unified titles to Andy Ruiz Jr back in 2019, but would avenge the shock defeat six months later.
He successfully defended them once more against Kubrat Pulev before meeting Oleksandr Usyk in London and being outboxed over the distance. In their second fight he wasn’t able to do what he did with Ruiz, losing again in a closer affair.
Firmly out of the title picture for the first time in eight years, Joshua moved to trainer Derrick James and recorded two wins – Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius – and now finds himself searching for a fight that will position him well for a title shot.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Carl Froch said that It may not be what Joshua does that decides his fate, but what the current champions do.
“It depends who retires before him. I think it’d be difficult for him to beat Usyk, he’s already lost twice. I’d like to say yes. He’s definitely got the ability, he’s been world champion before, Olympic champion. I think he’s got mental scars from the first Ruiz fight and, to be fair, it was brave fighting Usyk twice, but he got beat.”
“He’s certainly got the ability, but why I’ve said depends who’s around, I think it’s a tough fight for him against Tyson Fury I really do. Confidence wise and stylistically. But Fury, I think, is past his best, especially after that Ngannou fight.”
“Yeah I think he can become world champion, but in the current climate he’s gonna struggle.”
Usyk and Tyson Fury are expected to fight to crown an undisputed champion in February, and a two-way rematch clause means that at least on of the belts will likely become vacant thereafter.
That’s precisely why Joshua’s team have one eye on Filip Hrgovic, who is the IBF mandatory challenger and may fight for the belt in the first half of next year.