Former cruiserweight world champion, Tony Bellew, has been speaking on Anthony Joshua’s options for his next fight – and there’s one opponent he’s certain would provide fireworks.
Joshua returned to the ring last weekend after 7 months out with a unanimous decision victory over American, Jermaine Franklin.
Most fans, and AJ himself, were hoping for a statement performance to make the rest of the division take notice. Failing to get the knockout he craved has perhaps raised more questions than answers about where he is currently at as fighter.
Having come off the back of consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, some will argue that the Brit getting back in the winning column was all that mattered, and that he can now focus on bigger fights under his new trainer, Derrick James.
Joshua and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, previously made it clear that they wanted activity this year, with a plan to fight three times. However, that all seems to have changed, with the former two-time champion announcing his next fight won’t be until December.
With speculation rife over why the change of heart and who the opponent could be, Bellew has been giving his thoughts.
Speaking on the DAZN Boxing Show, Bellew said he expected it to be against Fury, but would like to see the ‘chaotic’ Deontay Wilder fight.
“I can’t even begin to think, imagine if it’s Wilder, that is just the most crazy, chaotic fight in the heavyweight division, bar none, because no one, absolutely no one can predict what’s going to happen there.
I don’t care who you are, no one can predict what happens if Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua face each other next, the first bell goes and nobody can say anything with certainty.”
With rumours of a four man tournament to be hosted in Saudi Arabia involving Joshua, Fury, Usyk and Wilder, the heavyweight division could still be set for a big 2023 after the collapse of the undisputed fight last month.