Who should Anthony Joshua fight in December?

[Cyclops]

I voted Zhang, Whyte, Yoka, Ajagba and, begrudgingly because Hrgovic wasn't on the list for some reason, Chisora.

Zhang, Yoka and Ajagba are all big guys with names that won't be unfamiliar, or at least will take little selling, to the casual market that makes up the majority of the Joshua fanbase. For weigh-ins and face-offs they're easily the best options:

Zhang is an ogre of a bloke with a massive head who most people think should have got the nod against Hrgovic and has just had good exposure as AJ's chief support.

Yoka is 6'7 and young and athletic looking, he'd match up to AJ well from an aesthetic point of view, he's French so the Brits will want to see him take a hiding, and he's got the pedigree of being an Olympic gold medalist same as AJ, and the win over consensus top 10 contender Joyce in that Olympic final. Hearn has plenty to work with there to sell that.

Ajagba, again another massive very athletic looking young fighter with some sort of recognition factor having fought on the Fury-Wilder 3 undercard, and could possibly be flogged as some sort of all Nigerian affair for some fake African title I reckon?

They all have a loss a piece, but so what? So does AJ. It would be quite the confidence builder to be able to punch some holes in some big limited f*cker and get a KO for the reel against someone the same size as you. Plus they're marketable fights: I'd watch all of them.

Voted for Whyte and Chisora just because they're familiar names to his UK crowd, and this isn't going to be some big stadium PPV extravaganza: it'll be the 02 and those two will bring out their own casual fanbases and shift tickets. Stick it on the app. I wouldn't be watching either, but plenty of people will. Commercially, you'd think they'd be the safest bets.

At this stage I'd steer him away from Sanchez and Bakole, two fighters on the list that might actually beat him, especially this current mentally wrecked incarnation. He needs to rebuild a bit before taking on genuine up and coming guys like that who are improving and are part of the next generation. He needs a win, preferably against somebody who looks the part. At this stage those lads are too dangerous: AJ badly needs a win.

People like Allen and Babic are far beneath him, Miller is a disgusting fat POS and shouldn't be anywhere near an opportunity.

Wallin had a brief moment where he looked like he might be quite useful but his window has closed as an interesting opponent for anybody, especially with his last crappy performance and he is so nondescript and boring as a fighter... How many people even really remember who he is now? He's a dull UD-merchant whose defining moment is cutting Fury badly while losing.

Kabayel similar: beat Chisora a lifetime ago and then done nothing ever since. Incredibly boring opponent. Gassiev is another cruiserweight who got lit up like a Christmas tree by Usyk: AJ should be fighting a fellow super heavyweight.

The others... I can't see any value in them. Maybe Makhmudov? I see people talking about him sometimes on Forums and he looks massive and scary, and has a record of wins over the corpses of some name journeymen/gatekeeper types, but I've never watched him.

[gregregegg]

Go lower I dont see a huge rush with the belts tied up and AJ rattled. Id like to see AJ KO a C/D grade guy december, feb, april, June,august. Get that killer confidence back up then fight whyte at the 02 in december next year.

Could still make big events of it, just not PPVs (AJ would have to be willing to ignore money for 9 months). say for exmple Fugimoto in japan, its a horrific missmatch, but im sure you would sell out somewhere in tokyo.

[Coco]

Zhang would be good, big fight, lots of Chinese interest, would generate a lot of money and AJ should dish out a brutal beatdown.
Zhang is proud and tough and would last a few rounds.
AJ just needs to watch out for the bombs.

While I'm sure AJ would beat Yoka, for his confidence he doesn't need to fight a slippery boxer type.

Zhang will stand in front of him.

[H8Usernames]

For me to turn on the TV to watch something it has to be interesting. I am not really interested in seeing AJ fail or succeed, all that interests me is my own entertainment. So AJ vs Fury is the fight to see. If that can't materialize then AJ vs Wilder and the third pick would be Ortiz.

[DrDuke]

Voted for Babic. It'll be fun. Joshua will need an easy night after the two losses in a row. Babic has already been exposed enough to marinate him for something bigger.

[Cyclops]

Go lower I dont see a huge rush with the belts tied up and AJ rattled. Id like to see AJ KO a C/D grade guy december, feb, april, June,august. Get that killer confidence back up then fight whyte at the 02 in december next year.

Could still make big events of it, just not PPVs (AJ would have to be willing to ignore money for 9 months). say for exmple Fugimoto in japan, its a horrific missmatch, but im sure you would sell out somewhere in tokyo.

Joshua's still a top 5 fighter, arguably top 3. He needs a bit of a psychological rebuild, but they shouldn't be chucking him in with complete nobodies where there is zero element of competition. That's not going to help him much. He's a good fighter. He should be going in with someone who might hit him back. His fall from grace isn't Fury-esque, where he's gone up to 30 stone and has been gorging on Stella and cocaine and hedgehog burgers for 2 years.

He's lost some fights and wigged out a bit.

A mismatch or two, yeah. But not a horrific mismatch. Come on, mate.

[littlepug]

Any of the top guys, he’s a veteran now so no need to mess about, he’s got 3 losses now which isn’t the end of the world but at least the pressure is off now, just go out and take them all on, there’s still some good results within his grasp.

[1061430]

Would not dispute the numbers AJ can put up in the UK but in my part of the world (NW England)he's not particularly a crowd favourite Fury and maybe even Chisora are much better liked than him.
Maybe he would pack an arena with half of the punters hoping to see him get KTFO?

[Bandog]

Ortiz if he beats Ruiz. Otherwise
Frank Sanchez

[margaret thatcher]

hopefully ortiz wouldnt run from aj again

[Bandog]

hopefully ortiz wouldnt run from aj again

Ortiz was guaranteed a Wilder fight, with a full camp, not short notice. Fat Andy KOd him anyway. He should have taken it, much easier fight.

[margaret thatcher]

right before being offered the fight

'i want aj! any time, any place, any money! i want those belts! he's the #1 fight for me! i'll take the fight!!'

gets a huge offer

'well, um, uh, well, hmm'

[Perkin Warbeck]

[Syntax Error]

What a difference a year makes.

This time last year Joshua was a fight twice a year, PPV cash cow, unified champion with his pick of top opponents, now he's being touted to fight perennial gatekeeper Dereck Chisora, or sundry other gatekeepers/up an comers?

Joshua is still a top 5 guy.

There is no need for him to be picking low hanging fruit.

I don't even believe he'll fight in December; I think that's just talk to keep his name relevant.

He will return next Spring and he should be targeting either the Wilder/Helenius, Ortiz/Ruiz Jr or Parker/Joyce winners continue mixing it at the top of the HW tree.

Joshua is still a big name who generates ££££s, so why jeopardise that further by putting him in nothing fights which mean more to his opponents than they mean to him?

[Ruthless-RKO]

What a difference a year makes.

This time last year Joshua was a fight twice a year, PPV cash cow, unified champion with his pick of top opponents, now he's being touted to fight perennial gatekeeper Dereck Chisora, or sundry other gatekeepers/up an comers?

Joshua is still a top 5 guy.

There is no need for him to be picking low hanging fruit.

I don't even believe he'll fight in December; I think that's just talk to keep his name relevant.

He will return next Spring and he should be targeting either the Wilder/Helenius, Ortiz/Ruiz Jr or Parker/Joyce winners continue mixing it at the top of the HW tree.

Joshua is still a big name who generates ££££s, so why jeopardise that further by putting him in nothing fights which mean more to his opponents than they mean to him?

He's still a cash cow..

Casuals will still lap him up.

Another loss wont help.. Even as an opponent, they'll make money.

[tiny_acres]

What a difference a year makes.

This time last year Joshua was a fight twice a year, PPV cash cow, unified champion with his pick of top opponents, now he's being touted to fight perennial gatekeeper Dereck Chisora, or sundry other gatekeepers/up an comers?

Joshua is still a top 5 guy.

There is no need for him to be picking low hanging fruit.

I don't even believe he'll fight in December; I think that's just talk to keep his name relevant.

He will return next Spring and he should be targeting either the Wilder/Helenius, Ortiz/Ruiz Jr or Parker/Joyce winners continue mixing it at the top of the HW tree.

Joshua is still a big name who generates ££££s, so why jeopardise that further by putting him in nothing fights which mean more to his opponents than they mean to him?

With his melt down after the Usyk fight. He needs a confidence builder or 2.
And there is nothing wrong with that. Lots of stars have done this after defeats.
He will still make stupid big money with even these mismatches.
I do not think a chisora fight would be the end of the world

[jamesmcdonnell]

What a difference a year makes.

This time last year Joshua was a fight twice a year, PPV cash cow, unified champion with his pick of top opponents, now he's being touted to fight perennial gatekeeper Dereck Chisora, or sundry other gatekeepers/up an comers?

Joshua is still a top 5 guy.

There is no need for him to be picking low hanging fruit.

I don't even believe he'll fight in December; I think that's just talk to keep his name relevant.

He will return next Spring and he should be targeting either the Wilder/Helenius, Ortiz/Ruiz Jr or Parker/Joyce winners continue mixing it at the top of the HW tree.

Joshua is still a big name who generates ££££s, so why jeopardise that further by putting him in nothing fights which mean more to his opponents than they mean to him?

I agree, I don't see Joshua fighting December whatsoever, it's all just a load of flannel.

They'll try and find some way to recycle him for a tilt at Fury if he wins.

I can't see them wanting a 3rd fight with Usyk, who is going to buy it when he was beaten pretty handily both times?

Winner of Wilder v Helenius? Risky proposition, but at this stage of his career, what's the point treading water?

The guy doesn't need money, though I'm sure his backers want plenty more out of him.

I have a feeling though that he gets iced by the next big puncher he faces. He is too tentative.

[gilgamesh]

Obviously when you're coming off 2 losses you need a guaranteed win next time out.

Chisora always seems available for that sorta thing.

[KiwiRider]

The winner of Wilder/Helenius to me is the most interesting matchup.
I think Joshua would beat Helenius fairly handily on the outside, and Wilder only really has his equaliser.
So either one would be a goid comeback opportunity.

[TheGman]

Get him in with DDD

[Perkin Warbeck]

[punchoutsb]

At this point I can’t guess the opponent, but it will be someone very beatable. AJ’s mental state certainly was sub-par immediately post fight, and it remains to be seen if that’s permanent. I doubt it is, but his team will want to be safe. Dropping an upset to someone like Wallin (not predicting he would lose, mind, just saying…) would be brutal for him. I’d expect someone past their sell by date, or someone who never was.

[funso banjo baby]

That'll be two fights back to back

He'll be exhausted

[Mexi-Box]

Agit Kabayel is a good call. Giant question mark to how good he is, but he's very credible. If Joshua struggles, it'll be akin to Fury/Wallin.

[punchoutsb]

That'll be two fights back to back

He'll be exhausted

No wonder, poor guy is 18 stone heavy unlike Rocky Marciano, Jack Dempsey, Sonny Liston or Mike Tyson. All this fighting coupled with studying the civil war in the Ukraine might be too much for him.