Joshua's potential 'wildcard' opponent...

[joshj909]

Lets speculate...

Although we know it probably will be Whyte, the names doing the rounds on Twitter are Usyk, Ward, Pulev, Miller, Wlad (ruled it out), Ortiz, Zhang.

Who do you think Eddie's talking about?

[marvelous marv]

Wlad

[jamamb]

Wlad

any inside info about it? i ask cuz sometimes i get the impression that you know more then most posters about this stuff

not a fan of that fight

[jamamb]

how viable is fury even if fury loses?

could still be big in the uk and maybe coming off a loss would make it easier to make with fury

[joshj909]

Wlad

[joshj909]

how viable is fury even if fury loses?

could still be big in the uk and maybe coming off a loss would make it easier to make with fury

That's actually a good point. If Fury wins then there has to be the rematch v Wilder and Fury has made claims that would make it difficult to make the Joshua fight like 50/50 splits. But if He loses i think he would take the fight with a smaller cut. Not sure how Eddie would spin it to make it not look like he is facing Wilder's leftovers but i don't think that would matter to British fans.

[jamamb]

ya i think in the uk casual market it would still be big even if fury loses to wilder. plus i hear warren has been having financial issues? maybe him and tyson would just want the biggest payday out there even if it means going right back into another fight hed prob lose

[marvelous marv]

I am just taking an educated guess with Wlad. He has been seen in the gym. Was recently talking about breaking George Foremans record for age of a heavyweight champ. But I think he would need alot of convincing to come out of retirement.

The other name I was thinking might be Ortiz, who previously was with Matchroom and could potentially return to them.

There are a very small pool of candidates that could be a viable opponent for AJ.

Eddie also said in the same video that Wilder and Whyte were strong candidates. It is very possible that Eddie and Haymon are talking, secretly and may have something ready to announce if Wilder wins. Wilder is the opponent AJ wants to fight.

[Heretic]

My guess for that "wildcard" opponent would be someone like Hammer, Jennings, Kownacki, Ruiz or Helenius.

Someone who is low risk for decent payday with the opportunity to get another spot for the highlight reels. Opponents with enough name and ranking to sell the fight but not hard for AJ to beat.

I hope it is someone like Pulev or Miller... real contender.

[Crease]

A "wildcard opponent"?

I would guess Jarrel Miller - in AJ's first fight in America with Matchroom USA.

[danconnollyeire]

Wlad

I like Wlad... funny guy

[danconnollyeire]

Haye

[chuck9788]

Alexis Rafael Castillo Sanchez (0-40) lost 36 fights by KO. The lowest rated current heavyweight on boxrec.


Alexis Rafael Castillo Sanchez

http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/394783

[Stuarty]

Fight the Wilder/Fury winner next or fukk off!!!

[dickbelden]

ANDRE WARD now that CONTENDER 5 is over.

[oogiebe]

Fight the Wilder/Fury winner next or fukk off!!!

Absolutely!!!!!

[jujigatame]

Hope it's Usyk. I think he has a better chance of beating AJ than anyone, including Wilder. And there's really nothing left for him to do at cruiserweight anyway.

[Heretic]

Alexis Rafael Castillo Sanchez (0-40) lost 36 fights by KO. The lowest rated current heavyweight on boxrec.


Alexis Rafael Castillo Sanchez

http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/394783

Still better than Haye

[Heretic]

ANDRE WARD now that CONTENDER 5 is over.

I would watch that

[Enlightened-One]

It’ll probably be Kubrat Pulev, since he’s the IBF’s mandatory and a name that hasn’t previously been mentioned as a potential opponent for Anthony Joshua’s April 2019 title defence.

Someone like Jarrell Miller will be reserved for AJ’s US debut. We also know that the American will instead fight the loser of the Whyte-Chisora rematch.

As the WBO’s “super champion”, Oleksandr Usyk may be allowed to make an immediate challenge for AJ’s title and that organisation’s belt is the one that Joshua is obliged to perform a mandatory defence of next.

However, I don’t expect it to be the Ukraine, since Usyk is expected (and probably needs) to take a break before engaging in a couple of non-championship heavyweight bouts, to acclimatise himself to his new weight class, prior to challenging for the world title.

If Fury beats Wilder, then the Brit will be contractually-obliged to engage in an immediate rematch. So it won’t be him.

Trevor Bryan would be a decent substitute opponent, as he’s the WBA’s interim titleholder, since the situation related to the status of the “regular” is still unknown (i.e. Charr-Miller-Dinu). So Eddie Hearn might be able to persuade Gilberto Mendoza to make this count as a mandatory defence of his WBA title.

Last, but not least, Fres Oquendo?

[Stuarty]

Zumbano Love

[Enlightened-One]

A "wildcard opponent"?

I would guess Jarrel Miller - in AJ's first fight in America with Matchroom USA.

I like your thinking, but AJ signed a two-fight deal with Wembley Stadium and is committed to fighting at that venue on the 13th April 2019.

Miller will be Joshua's opponent when the Brit makes his debut on US soil.

[Deleted_Scenes]

allegedly has decided to lace them up to help pay off his debt to HMRC.

[Mexi-Box]

Joe Joyce is the first thing that popped in my head.

[fanman]

thats a non story. there will always be options for the cash cow. interestingly josh is set on wilder, irrespective of whether he wins 1 dec.