Who does Anthony Joshua fight next?

[Stuarty]

I'd rather Pulev was next up. He's a credible opponent IMO.

Of course he is credible.

Only loons like Riddick Blowe would say otherwise.

Pulev would be by far the best AJ has faced so far. His only loss was against Wlad in what was the best I've seen Wlad for years. The thing is Pulev could end up going the same way as the others and he'll get written off as a no hoper. It's hard to match AJ because of his power. I'd like to see him in with someone who'll drag him in deep but who do you turn to? The division isn't exactly crawling with these types. Isn't Pulev or Parker mandatory anyway?

[BitPlayer]

If glitter balls Eddie tries to serve up Chisora as AJs next opponent and manages to do the whole promotion with a straight face then he's truly the spawn of satan.

If they can do it with Breazeale, Chisora is no issue.

Breazeale was undefeated and a bit of an unknown quantity over here so it made the fight an easier sell. Most folk know DelBoy. I wouldn't actually say Chisora is a lot worse than anyone AJ has faced but he's looked past his best for a while and he should be moving forward not backwards. I'd rather Pulev was next up. He's a credible opponent IMO.

Yeah but a quick google search tells you he got battered his last fight, and the one before that was a very questionable victory. I agree he should be fighting someone better than Chisora, especially since other than some trivial keep busy fights he's coming off two losses. Plus fighters only have so many hard fights, and he's been in several.

I agree Pulev would be the best, in terms of credibility and development, he'd give very good experience for fighting the Furys. But I wouldn't be surprised if he went for Ruiz or Stivern (who was knocked down by Rossy) instead.

[Stuarty]

If they can do it with Breazeale, Chisora is no issue.

Breazeale was undefeated and a bit of an unknown quantity over here so it made the fight an easier sell. Most folk know DelBoy. I wouldn't actually say Chisora is a lot worse than anyone AJ has faced but he's looked past his best for a while and he should be moving forward not backwards. I'd rather Pulev was next up. He's a credible opponent IMO.

Yeah but a quick google search tells you he got battered his last fight, and the one before that was a very questionable victory. I agree he should be fighting someone better than Chisora, especially since other than some trivial keep busy fights he's coming off two losses. Plus fighters only have so many hard fights, and he's been in several.

I agree Pulev would be the best, in terms of credibility and development, he'd give very good experience for fighting the Furys. But I wouldn't be surprised if he went for Ruiz or Stivern (who was knocked down by Rossy) instead.

Agree. I think most of us knew Breazeale wouldn't be up to much but most of AJs fans are casuals so it's easier for Hearn to put a spin on that type of opponent. Stiverne has been getting mentioned quite a bit recently so you could be right about him being next. Would much prefer Pulev or Parker.

[Bard of Boxrec]

I'd rather Pulev was next up. He's a credible opponent IMO.

Of course he is credible.

Only loons like Riddick Blowe would say otherwise.

When did I say Pulev isn't credible as an opponent?

I don't think he's much good in the absolute scheme of heavyweight contenders, but there aren't that many in the division who are. He's less bad than a lot of guys.

[Rob3_142]

If I was Joshua or Hearn, I wouldn't waste my time with Chisora. They offered him the fight earlier in the year and Chisora snubbed it, citing that Joshua had nothing he wanted.

There's plenty of Chisora style fighters which will offer the same thing and more. I think Stiverne is better defensively and offensively than Chisora, and would provide Joshua with the right test, and a better one to boot. Chisora is just after a few more pay days before he hangs up the gloves.

I don't think Chisora is all that, yeah fine he has a solid chin, but offensively he's pretty limited. He's been knocked out by anyone who's anyone. Chisora needs to earn a bit of credibility by beating a few gatekeepers of his own. At the moment I'd back Whyte to beat him over 10 rounds.

[Reece_D]

Parker just won again by KO in the 4th round against Haumono. Parker's power is evident but still lacked a defence. Hearn should be ruishing to make this fight for the end of the year as it would sell well to the casuals.

[Horse]

He's been knocked out by anyone who's anyone.

No.

[Horse]

Parker just won again by KO in the 4th round against Haumono. Parker's power is evident but still lacked a defence. Hearn should be ruishing to make this fight for the end of the year as it would sell well to the casuals.

The casuals?

It would be a good fight. Parker would be Joshua's best opponent to date by far.

Why go on about casuals?

[Reece_D]

Parker has got power but watching his fights he has zero defence. this will be an easy fight for Joshua unless Parker can all of a sudden change his style. Was getting hit with big shots this morning.

[Maxsplit]

He's been knocked out by anyone who's anyone.

No.

Yes, strange comment!

Far from "being knocked out by anyone who's anyone' he went the distance vs Klitschko, winning some rounds and making it his toughest fight in years. And in both his losses to Pulev & Helenius, Chisora won on one of the 3 judges scorecards.

Only the present undisputed HW champion Tyson Fury and former HW champion David Haye have stopped Chisora.

All his other fights he's won!

[Maxsplit]

I'd rather Pulev was next up. He's a credible opponent IMO.

Of course he is credible.

Only loons like Riddick Blowe would say otherwise.

When did I say Pulev isn't credible as an opponent?

I don't think he's much good in the absolute scheme of heavyweight contenders, but there aren't that many in the division who are. He's less bad than a lot of guys.

Pulev would be a brilliant opponent and a very dangerous one too. And for that reason there is no chance Hearn makes it until he has no choice and becomes Joshuas mandatory.

His stoppage wins over Ustinov, Dimtrenko and wins over Thompson straight off the back of 2 x KOs of David Price & even Chisora are all WAY better than any wins Joshua has. He also wobbled Klistchko for the first time in years in their fight.

Pulev's elite lancing power jab and footwork would present Joshua with problems the like of which he hasn't faced anything close to as yet.

I'm not saying Joshua won't beat Pulev, but I guarantee he'd take quite a bit of damage if he did manage to stop him.

Joshua's flat footedness and lack of head movement would be literally made for Pulev's jab. Pulev knocked the 6'8 Ustinov out with his jab.

I'd say it would be a 50/50 ... given Joshua's green-ness. So zero % chance it gets made as a voluntary!

[foxdog1923]

Joshua's just got to step up. I mean truly step up. He's got to fight a somebody then we can see just how good he is.

[TheLeprechaun]

It will be someone from this list

Ustinov
Dimitrenko
Helenious
Browne
Duhappas
Stiverne
Scott

[Rob3_142]

He's been knocked out by anyone who's anyone.

No.

Yes, strange comment!

Far from "being knocked out by anyone who's anyone' he went the distance vs Klitschko, winning some rounds and making it his toughest fight in years. And in both his losses to Pulev & Helenius, Chisora won on one of the 3 judges scorecards.

Only the present undisputed HW champion Tyson Fury and former HW champion David Haye have stopped Chisora.

All his other fights he's won!

Apologies, I was typing that on the sly at work. What I meant to type was beaten by anyone who's anyone, not knocked out.

Granted, Chisora has shared the ring with many quality fighters, but the only credible win on Chisora's record was against Scott. Although he was unlucky against Helenius, the fact that a judge saw him outpoint Pulev is laughable. Did you watch that fight?

[rd350lc]

I agree , Del boy's best days are behind him and he was schooled by Pulev last time out

He was landing clean to Pulev's body and he was just laughing at him .

He wouldn't give Joshua much of a test , whereas Parker definitely would .

[Killer Blow]

Pulev, Parker and Stiverne are all top 10 imo, so I'd be satisfied with any of those 3. Price or Hughie Fury would be an embarrassment and both are much worse 2nd defences than Duhaupas. Andy Ruiz is decent and wouldn't be the worst defence ever but not as good as the first 3.

[Rob3_142]

Pulev, Parker and Stiverne are all top 10 imo, so I'd be satisfied with any of those 3. Price or Hughie Fury would be an embarrassment and both are much worse 2nd defences than Duhaupas. Andy Ruiz is decent and wouldn't be the worst defence ever but not as good as the first 3.

Agree with this, anything a rung below would be a waste of time. However Parker is already a shoe in as his mandatory, so I'd be keen on one of the others. With Matchroom desperate to strengthen their relationship with the American market, it just has to be Stiverne in my opinion (although would be equally pleased with Pulev).

I actually think that the mandatory for Parker will still be too early for him. I don't doubt his ability, but his defence and ring craft are still a bit suspect, and if you put him in a ring with a pretty well drilled Joshua, it's going to set him back a bit.

[crusader]

Is Stiverne billed as an American now despite being Haitian born and on the Canadian national team as an amateur?

By the way, I think he'd be a fine opponent for AJ's next fight, but is he really still top ten? Apart from the wins over second tier Arreola (2 and 3 years ago) he's looked pretty mediocre, before and after the Wilder fights.

[Killer Blow]

Is Stiverne billed as an American now despite being Haitian born and on the Canadian national team as an amateur?

By the way, I think he'd be a fine opponent for AJ's next fight, but is he really still top ten? Apart from the wins over second tier Arreola he's looked pretty mediocre, before and after the Wilder fights.

He fought once since the Wilder fight. And as he'll probably be fighting for a world title in his next fight, I think he should stay in the top 10 for now.

[crusader]

And he got dropped and by all accounts Ive seen looked poor, which isn't really a shock considering that he's approaching 40 and was never that good anyway.. His only wins of note were over the same limited opponent, which are going on 2 and 3 years, and considering how lacklustre he's been in other fights (scraping by Rossy, getting comprehensive ly outboxed for nearly 10 rounds by old Ray Austin, having fewer moments against Wilder than Molina and Szpilka did, getting stopped by a journeyman) I don't think he deserves a top ten spot.

That said, I think he makes sense as an AJ opponent for various reasons such as being a recent trinket holder, extending Wilder, and his previous US exposure,. Now that I think of it, Stiverne vs any of Breazeale, Whyte, or Big Baby Miller would be interesting.

[Grilling Machine]

Seriously name one of AJ's previous opponents that's better than Chisora.

If not better, I suspect Whyte's as good. Time'll tell.

[coneye]

If he ducks Parker , It just shows they really do not want to test him or risk a loss at all .. Like mentioned Parkers defence is a bit iffy , but he can wack , his chin seems decent ,, NOW is the time to get him before he gets any better .. Duck him now they will duck him forever .

Really don't know what the boxing world is coming too , boxers making up there own weight divisions ,, World champs having to jump 2 divisions to get a decent fight , World champs who duck everyone half decent with there people and promoters claiming there only learning still .

[Rob3_142]

If he ducks Parker , It just shows they really do not want to test him or risk a loss at all .. Like mentioned Parkers defence is a bit iffy , but he can wack , his chin seems decent ,, NOW is the time to get him before he gets any better .. Duck him now they will duck him forever .

Really don't know what the boxing world is coming too , boxers making up there own weight divisions ,, World champs having to jump 2 divisions to get a decent fight , World champs who duck everyone half decent with there people and promoters claiming there only learning still .

Well Parker is AJ's mandatory, so he'll have to fight within the next 6 months whether he likes it or not. Either that or give up the belt, which won't happen. Besides, I don't think there is TOO much to worry about Parker, definitely the best AJ will have faced, but then the hardest fight AJ has had so far was vs Whyte, and that was pretty much self inflicted. Joshua is still very early in his career, he's still only 17 fights in. Wilder and Fury took 25 fights before they fought anyone with a pulse.

Their is a lot of musical chairs in the weight divisions, but let's be honest here, that's impossible in the heavy weight division. You see Joshua whittling himself down to cruiserweight? No, me neither.

[BitPlayer]

If he ducks Parker , It just shows they really do not want to test him or risk a loss at all .. Like mentioned Parkers defence is a bit iffy , but he can wack , his chin seems decent ,, NOW is the time to get him before he gets any better .. Duck him now they will duck him forever .

Really don't know what the boxing world is coming too , boxers making up there own weight divisions ,, World champs having to jump 2 divisions to get a decent fight , World champs who duck everyone half decent with there people and promoters claiming there only learning still .

Well Parker is AJ's mandatory, so he'll have to fight within the next 6 months whether he likes it or not. Either that or give up the belt, which won't happen. Besides, I don't think there is TOO much to worry about Parker, definitely the best AJ will have faced, but then the hardest fight AJ has had so far was vs Whyte, and that was pretty much self inflicted. Joshua is still very early in his career, he's still only 17 fights in. Wilder and Fury took 25 fights before they fought anyone with a pulse.

Their is a lot of musical chairs in the weight divisions, but let's be honest here, that's impossible in the heavy weight division. You see Joshua whittling himself down to cruiserweight? No, me neither.

No, 15 fights in he went in as the underdog against British champion Chisora, and that's definitely legit since you said 25 fights with Wilder, when he fought Damon McCreary.

[foxdog1923]

AJ should go with this order..

1. Haye (2016)
2. Parker (2016)
3. Povetkin (2017)
4. Wilder (2017)
5. Ortiz (2017)
6. Fury/Klitschko (2017)

If he takes this path and wins them all (doesn't have to be KO) I will call him on of the modern greats.