By Edward Chaykovsky

Promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport is already lining up the next opponent for Anthony Joshua (17-0, 17KOs), who feels ready to take on any of the world’s elite heavyweights after a seventh round knockout of Dominic Breazeale last Saturday at the O2 Arena in London.

Joshua was making the first defence of his International Boxing Federation (IBF) heavyweight title. He floored his Breazeale twice before the fight was called off. He captured the title in April with an easy two round knockout of champion Charles Martin, who like Breazeale was an Al Haymon managed fighter from the United States.

The IBF recently ordered Joshua to face mandatory challenger Joseph Parker by January 9th of next year.

Parker is one of the main names in the running to face Joshua in the fall. Other include former WBC heavyweight champion Bermane Stiverne, who remains as the only man to take current WBC champ Deontay Wilder the distance. Then there are world title challengers Brytant Jennings and Kubrat Pulev.

If they don't select Parker for the fall, they expect to face him in early 2017.

"Expect an AJ return in November or December. We might go for a defence against his IBF mandatory challenger Joseph Parker. If we don't fight Parker next, we will have to do in February or March," Hearn told Daily Mail.

"Our other options at the moment could include Bermane Stiverne, Kubrat Pulev and Bryant Jennings. There is also the possibility next year of Wladimir Klitschko, with the uncertainty surrounding Tyson Fury's future at the moment."

"Now, it is time for Joshua to sit back and enjoy what he has achieved. In nine months, he has boxed four undefeated opponents and won the Commonwealth, British and the world heavyweight title and defended it. He has been incredible. It is time for him to put his feet up."