Huge plans for Anthony Joshua’s next three fights; culminating with Wembley fight against Fury, Haye or Wilder next summer
James Slater - September 1, 2016 - 2 comments
Promoter Eddie Hearn fully expects, as do plenty of other people, Anthony Joshua to become a boxing superstar in the near future, and there are big plans in store for the reigning IBF heavyweight champion. First up, Joshua, 17-0(17) will make the second defence of his belt in either November or December, then there will be defence number three in March and then, next summer at Wembley, Joshua will possibly fight a massive fight against either Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder or David Haye.
Hearn spoke of these plans with Sky Sports:
“Until things start slotting in, I can’t tell you the dates, the venue, the fights, or the under-card, but in time this will fall into place,” the Matchroom boss said. “We’ve already got a three-fight plan mapped out, which is November/December, March at The O2 then July at Wembley, which will be either against Haye, Fury or Wilder.”
Hearn admitted how these lofty plans are “pure speculation,” but are also “in the works.” There is plenty of work to be done, as well as a lot of good luck needed, for these big fights to come off. Joshua will defend against a TBA, possibly Kubrat Pulev in Nov/Dec and could then face mandatory challenger Joseph Parker in March – but, as Hearn says, Parker might fight David Price on the Nov/Dec card, and if Price were to score a KO, he would get the March shot at A.J.
The big one the fans are really excited about is the summer fight Hearn wants for his star. Joshua against Fury in a big unification fight would be enormous, as would a Joshua-Wilder IBF/WBC unification. Joshua against Haye would also be a big hit in the UK. Of these three possible fights, Joshua-Fury would be the pick for most people. Fury is said to be training hard for his October 29 return with Wladimir Klitschko and, all being well, the two British rivals will lock horns in the summer 2017.
These are the fights that make fight fans fight fans!
But as we already know speculation in the fight game is cool and with Joshua as with any other fighter, his next fight is the only one that matters, the rest at this point is just that, pure speculation. Truth known that Parker camp will be feeling the same sought of buzz haha. Dreams are free but any one of those fights can be a wrecking ball.
What if, what if..... Wlad KOTFO Fury.....
Sham, Parker facing Dimitrenko, Price, and then AJ is a good path to a title. But yeah, so many things would have to click. Like AJ not losing, Parker not losing, AJ winning and fighting Parker instead of unifying, money, etc.
I want Wlad to KO Fury and retire. But if Wlad fights on, would rather he lost to Fury in the first place.
Browne-Oquendo negotiations underway
WBA President Gilberto Jesus Mendoza has announced that negotiations are underway for a fight for the vacant WBA regular heavyweight title between Lucas Browne and Fres Oquendo. “Browne’s title shot came out of a legal settlement we had to do after we got sued by Browne’s people for stripping him,” Mendoza told Sky Sports. “I think the WBA grounds were very strong. He took us to court and we settled for giving him a title opportunity…that’s what we ordered. We have been listening to the promoters, that’s a very tough fight to sell. That’s a very tough fight to make because of the amounts of money, but they are negotiating right now. We’ll see what the outcome is.”
Good matchup between two inactive old men. I still back Oquendo if he comes in the right mindset.
Boxing Buzz: Heavyweight Notes
By Karl Freitag
WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, Team Fury and BoxNation will hold a press conference on Monday to discuss Fury’s future plans. Fury is contractually obligated to give ex-champ Wladimir Klitschko a rematch, but that fight has had two dates postponed already.
Wlad has been lecturing at University of St. Gallen in Switzerland. In February, Klitschko Management Group (KMG) and Klitschko initiated a management study program called “CAS Change & Innovation Management” which has been declared a complete success and will continue.
No signs that the much ballyhooed David Haye vs. Shannon Briggs heavyweight showdown is coming together anytime soon. Briggs fought on Hayes’ undercard in May, supposedly with the understanding that they would meet in September.
WBA interim heavyweight champion Luis Ortiz could face Alexander Ustinov on the November 19 Kovalev-Ward undercard.
A date is set for IBF/WBO #1 heavyweight Joseph Parker’s next fight against 6’7” Alexander Dimitrenko. The bout will take place October 1 in Auckland, New Zealand.
Unbeaten heavyweight Andy Ruiz faces Franklin Lawrence next Saturday at Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino in Lemoore, California. The 40-year-old Lawrence is the youngest opponent Ruiz has faced so far this year. Previously “The Destroyer” stopped 45-year-old Ray Austin in May and 42-year-old Josh Gormley in July.
WBC #1 heavyweight Alexander Povetkin has already started his preparation for the fight vs. WBC #2 Bermane Stiverne. Nothing set as far as a date or venue for the clash which is for the interim WBC heavyweight title.
Ortiz-Ustinov collapses (again)
The WBA-mandated fight between WBA interim heavyweight champion Luis Ortiz (25-0, 22 KOs) and Alexander Ustinov (33-1, 24 KOs) has apparently fallen apart for the second time. Ustinov’s representative Vlad Hrunov informed Fightnews.com® that the deadline has passed for Ortiz to sign for the fight after World of Boxing won the right to promote the bout at a WBA purse bid on August 15.
Ortiz-Ustinov was originally planned for the Canelo-Smith undercard on September 17 in Dallas. Ortiz refused that agreement and instead bought out his contract with Golden Boy. There was then talk of the bout landing on the Kovalev-Ward card.
Duco: Ustinov - Parker please, ty