BoxRec

I'd happily see him fight any of those names other than Pulev now.
I've defended the idea of moving him slowly in the past but he's getting no benefit fighting stiffs
Get him in with a challenge.

If he has a fight scheduled for 6 weeks time however, I strongly suspect it will be another nomark he gets lumped in with and another 2 round wipeout

i'd like him to go a few rounds so Ustinov, Wach... maybe someone like browne but doubt he is interested at this point of his career. Glazkov maybe?

If he sticks with going down the WBC route, there are some good fights for him:
Tony Thompson
Lucas Browne
Johann Duhaupas

I would like to see him fight Fres Oquendo next, to give one more durable, defensive fighter a chance to take him the distance. If Fres gets steamrolled, then that's gotta be the last time Joshua fights a fighter outside the top 25.

Lackeos wrote:I would like to see him fight Fres Oquendo next, to give one more durable, defensive fighter a chance to take him the distance. If Fres gets steamrolled, then that's gotta be the last time Joshua fights a fighter outside the top 25.

I was thinking Fres myself. I am sure he would relish the chance to play on the big stage in the UK (as opposed to on the big stage in Chechyna).

Lackeos wrote:If Fres gets steamrolled, then that's gotta be the last time Joshua fights a fighter outside the top 25.

People say this with every prospect. Whenever they step up it's all 'Oh, they can't step down again now' and then, oh, they've stepped down again. For two years. See Tyson Fury.

There simply aren't enough decent fighters or viable, makable fights at heavyweight for this mythical 'linear increase in opponent quality' to actually exist. We've already established that people don't want to fight in this division, least of all against a guy like Joshua. But it doesn't stop people like Fergus crying about the mythical situation not being reality.

Anthony is like 25 years old. What's he supposed to do before getting a fight with Wlad or whoever is perceived to be the big challenge 2 or 3 years down the line? Fans say things like 'I want to see him first up against Browne, then step up to Thompson, then Pulev, then he'll be ready for Wlad!' Almost as if they think these guys are just waiting patiently in line ready to obediently dance to the tune of some other heavyweight's projected rise to greatness.

When does this idealistic schedule ever actually happen?

I'd like to see him fight someone like Erkan Teper, Mariusz Wach, or Alexander Ustinov.....guys who are big, haven't shown durability problems, come to fight, and are more dangerous than his previous opposition.

I previously mentioned Duhaupas, but after more consideration I think he spends too much time on the back foot and lacks physical strength; I see him being negative and not providing much resistance to AJ.

Chisora or Browne would both be nice, but are they really going to step him up directly from a no-hoper like KJ to one of those guys? I think someone like Duhaupas or Ustinov would be much more likely.

Definitely an interesting period for Fast Eddie and the team.

AJ is demolishing everything put in front of him and we're coming to the point where the blowouts cannot be progressing him as a fighter or give the fans much value. So it will all be about making sure the bar is set at a new height, but not so high that AJ comes a cropper and they have to go back to rebuild mode.

I do like this period of an upcoming heavyweight's career because the first risks have to be taken and the questions posed are not so simple. Bruno and Lewis both reached this juncture with more fights under their belts but AJ is motoring so fast that a crunch fight now has to be in the offing.

Personally, I'd like to Whyte in there....a young, fellow Brit heavyweight who has got some reasonable power and will be hungry for an opportunity like this. Let's see AJ deals with a brawl against a guy who fancies it.

Browne would be good as well; he's a majorly strong lad (who would be difficult to bully but is beatable) and he has some belts to take.

It is a bit too early for Tony Thompson in my opinion.

Lackeos wrote:I would like to see him fight Fres Oquendo next, to give one more durable, defensive fighter a chance to take him the distance. If Fres gets steamrolled, then that's gotta be the last time Joshua fights a fighter outside the top 25.

Yes, Oquendo would provide a decent test without a real risk. Chambers would be a good choice as well.

What he needs is someone else with world title experience and who is coming off a good win. So step forward....... Danny Williams


More seriously I think Thompson would a great choice - a big, experienced heavyweight who will come to fight.

I would be happy with someone like Fast Fres or Alex Leapai then Whyte in September.

Whyte beat Joshua in the ams, is unbeaten, has shown some promise himself, and will come to win. If anyone argues with that as a viable domestic title fight for a few month's time they're retarded. Those who do complain will use Whyte getting destroyed to back up their claim that he wasn't a suitable opponent, in the same way Fergus used Joshua's annihilation of Johnson to 'prove' his theory that King Pin was a poor opponent for Joshua.

In the real world Joshua is just too good for everyone out there and will bowl through the division with ease.

Why not Arreloa? Sure Arreola is damaged goods but at least he'll fight back, which is something Joshua's opponents have not done, partly because he cherry picked them, partly because of his power.