By Edward Chaykovsky
Barry Hearn, founder of Matchroom Sport, views IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (16-0, 16KOs) as the number one heavyweight in the world.
Joshua is back in action on Saturday night at the O2 Arena in London. He will defend his title for the very first time, against unbeaten American Olympian Dominic Breazeale.
This is Joshua's first bout since unseating heavyweight champion Charles Martin in two rounds back in April. It also marks the first fight for the British star as a Showtime televised fighter.
The biggest money fight for Joshua is a unification with WBO/IBO/WBA world champion Tyson Fury (25-0, 18KOs). Fury is scheduled to defend his titles in a rematch with Wladimir Klitschko on July 9th in Manchester. He upset Klitschko for the heavyweight crown last November in Germany. It was the first loss for Klitschko in over ten years.
Hearn believes Fury's style is tailor-made for Joshua. And he admits that he's not fully sure if Fury will defeat Klitschko for a second time. If the Klitschko of old shows up, Hearns expects Fury to face some serious problems in the fight.
"I think I've got the best heavyweight for the next 10 years on the planet. I can't see anyone beating him. I think the kid is outstanding and I think he's got a lot of improvement left in him yet. Even as he is today, he's the best heavyweight in the world. What he's going to be like in two years' time is frightening," Hearn said.
"Tyson had an amazing result to beat Klitschko, but you have to say that Klitschko only threw five punches in the entire fight. If the real Klitschko turns up, Tyson could have a problem. If Klitschko is completely shot, Fury will win again, and I really hope that he does. If Klitschko turns up, he could make Tyson look silly. We have to wait and see, but win or lose there is a massive fight with Anthony Joshua. Win or lose. I would rather he won, because it's even bigger. It's an 80,000 sell out at Wembley, it's a million pay-per-view buys, plus the global, because it's a great fight to watch.
"I think Fury is made for Joshua, because of the way he boxes, the way he stands. He's not a great big puncher and he can't take a shot. That's my view. I mean [Steve] Cunningham dropped him. When a cruiserweight puts you on your ass, you have to ask some serious questions. But he's very engaging, he'll sell the fight, and it will be a massive, massive fight."
