Since Wladimir Klitschko’s announcement, it seems like everyone is after Anthony Joshua. IBF mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev is already expecting to be next in line. WBA mandatory challenger Luis Ortiz is also waiting for his turn. WBC champion Deontay Wilder, sure enough, demanded a fight and even UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic wanted a piece of the action.
Promoter Eddie Hearn spoke recently to Sky Sports and clarified the situation since it does seem a bit hectic at Camp Joshua right now.
“Obviously we now have to fight Pulev and Ortiz and it’s going to be a tough balancing act. The Pulev mandatory was called some time ago and we already have signed correspondence that if it’s not Klitschko then Pulev must be next,” told Hearn.
Wilder will get his turn but not anytime soon because of the mandatory challengers.
“I would say right now the plan is Pulev, Ortiz then if Wilder still has a belt then AJ can relieve him of that next summer,” explained Hearn.
The promoter said that his fighter is not trying to avoid anyone, quite the opposite. He wants to fight them all but in the correct order.
“AJ is 100 per cent up for fighting Pulev, 100 per cent up for fighting Ortiz and 100 per cent up for fighting Wilder and he wants to do it in a way to try and capture all belts.”