What Next For Joshua?

[lefty]

I can see it being Pulev at the O2 later in the year.
AJ still only had 19 fights. They will need to limit the amount of wars he has to increase longevity.
Pulev will do nicely until another big Wembley showdown next year.
The Ortiz fight will NEVER happen. He brings risk and zero money. His standing with 'casual' fans is low after his Scott win.

I think Joshua would destroy Ortiz. He's old, easy to hit and his output is low. Would be a great looking win for AJ

I disagree but we'll probably never get to find out.

[dirk2686]

How do any of the roads lead to Fury? There's almost zero earning potential, one of the hardest teams to negotiate (as well as being unreliable), no championship belts, and you'd essentially be chasing a ghost. Not in any kind of shape to even be looking at the inside of a ring. At the moment, zero roads lead to Fury.

Whilst Wilder and Parker are title holders and other capable fighters are in mandatory positions, Fury is top of the list in terms of money, because of one obvious reason: millions of people would pay a lot of money to see Joshua destroy Fury. It might not happen, Fury could win, it could be a stinker. But that is how it'll be sold to the masses and people genuinely want to see it.

Joshua can sell fighting anyone, but it's the biggest fight going for him in a financial sense and therefore it'll happen. Fury and his team would have to accept short money, but they bring nothing to the table. No fans, no titles. But it's still the biggest earner Fury can get.

Basically everything you have just said there means, all roads lead to Joshua.

All roads for every boxer other than Joshua lead to Joshua yes. He's unquestionably the biggest name in the division.

But for Joshua himself I maintain his biggest fight is Fury. If Haye had beaten Bellew then that would be different, but it's not to be.

[Rob3_142]

The options are limited for Joshua. He first and foremost needs to wait on Wlad to indicate his ambitions, due to the contractual agreement for a rematch. I personally don't want a rematch. Although it was a great fight, I think a second fight Joshua wins a lot easier. He will have learned a LOT in that bust up with Wlad, and probably come back a much better fighter.

I would personally look to take his mandatory's, either Pulev or Ortiz, providing that neither governing bodies strip the belts (which in the spirit of fairness should happen since what happened with Fury and the IBF). Then I would hope for a unification with either Wilder or Parker next spring.

[Counter-puncher]

Whilst Wilder and Parker are title holders and other capable fighters are in mandatory positions, Fury is top of the list in terms of money, because of one obvious reason: millions of people would pay a lot of money to see Joshua destroy Fury. It might not happen, Fury could win, it could be a stinker. But that is how it'll be sold to the masses and people genuinely want to see it.

Joshua can sell fighting anyone, but it's the biggest fight going for him in a financial sense and therefore it'll happen. Fury and his team would have to accept short money, but they bring nothing to the table. No fans, no titles. But it's still the biggest earner Fury can get.

Basically everything you have just said there means, all roads lead to Joshua.

All roads for every boxer other than Joshua lead to Joshua yes. He's unquestionably the biggest name in the division.

But for Joshua himself I maintain his biggest fight is Fury. If Haye had beaten Bellew then that would be different, but it's not to be.

Agreed