Anthony Joshua versus Deontay Wilder is a long sought after heavyweight match up that just might happen in the next year or two – and Carl Froch has had his say on how it might go.
At one point not so long ago, the pair would have been fighting for the undisputed heavyweight championship, with Joshua holding the IBF, WBA and WBO belts and Wilder sporting the WBC.
The landscape of the division has changed significantly since then. Oleksandr Usyk beat ‘AJ’ for his unified belts and Tyson Fury pummelled Wilder to take the WBC.
Despite no silverware on the line, Joshua and Wilder possess two style that fans would love to see crash together in the ring – but one man is warning the Brit against it.
Froch, a former super middleweight world champion and recent hall of fame inductee, doesn’t fancy his countryman’s chances against the knockout artist from Alabama. He told BonusCodeBets that he wouldn’t advise ‘AJ’ to take that fight.
“Would I put AJ in with Deontay Wilder? Probably not. It’s a dangerous fight for him and one he loses. He probably gets chinned. I can’t see him beating Tyson Fury, too much of an ask, especially right now.”
Following his two losses to Usyk, Joshua is in comeback mode and that will start with a fight against American heavyweight, Jermaine Franklin.
Froch believes it’s a good start for building back, but is unsure how he can navigate himself to world titles as things currently stand.
“It’s good he’s fighting Jermaine Franklin. It’s a good match. Franklin gave Dillian Whyte a good test and it’s a fair match up for AJ to come back into boxing after losing back to back against Usyk. He’s entitled to one steady fight.
It’s a must win, he has to win. After that, who does he fight? Wilder – too risky. Fury – I don’t think he wins that fight. Probably Dillian Whyte is the way he’ll go but he’s done it all ready.
Whyte lost to Fury and that Franklin fight was close. He showed his level. It’s still a good fight that will sell on PPV. but it’s a shame. I don’t know where he goes. It’s going to be a difficult job navigating him back to world champion.”
Joshua faces Franklin on April 1, whilst Wilder doesn’t yet have an opponent lined up for his first fight of 2023.
The teams of both men have an open line of communication regarding a fight later in the year, however fans who have witnessed those talks crumble in the past won’t be getting their hopes up anytime soon.