Australian heavyweight, Demsey McKean, has found himself in the headlines this week as a potential opponent for Anthony Joshua’s ring return.
McKean’s name has long been thrown around in the conversation with others like Otto Wallin, even mentioned by promoter Eddie Hearn as a possibility, however recent attention from both TalkSPORT and the Fight Disciples podcast has led fans to believe the undefeated heavyweight is the front runner.
The man from Brisbane is a previous sparring partner of Joshua, and called him out for a fight last year following a knockout victory over Patrick Korte.
IT'S ALL OVER 😤
Demsey McKean gets the stoppage back home 🇦🇺#ParoJarvispic.twitter.com/GiYf5qJD8K
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) October 15, 2022
McKean has a perfect record of 22 wins, 0 losses and 14 knockouts. He’s 32 and currently holds the IBF Inter-Continental Heavyweight title.
Despite having turned pro back in 2014, he’s never been scheduled for a twelve round fight, with any wins that haven’t been by stoppage coming over a ten-round distance.
As far as rankings go, McKean is number 10 with the WBO and 11 with the IBF, but doesn’t feature in the WBC or WBA top 15.
He’s fought twice out of his home country – once in the States in 2021 and once in the UK last year against Ariel Esteban
Bracamonte on a Lawrence Okolie show.
Whilst not yet formally announced, McKean shared a clip on his social media recently admitting that there had been talks and that he would be ready to go in April – the target date for Joshua’s first fight of 2023.
As well as an opponent, the former champion is due to announce his new training set up. He’s said to have found a gym in America to prepare for future fights after a split from Robert Garcia in the aftermath of his second loss to Oleksandr Usyk.