Anthony Joshua is still looking for a 2025 Opponent - But who is safe for him?

[Rockybigblower]

Why doesnt he call out Pricey out seeing how Fury ducked both of them years ago.

[Toffee]

The former 2-time multiple title belt claimant is often called a highly accomplished boxer and sporting superstar, and just as often referred to now as a fragile chinned hype job.
The reality, is that he can rightly be regarded as both.

But now, at 35, the long beloved A.J. is into the twilight of his career, and he's on the lookout for a mid-year opponent who will keep him active, in the limelight; without handing him a loss which surely might be his last. As with these situations, the perfect opponent will be a good one, a top 1 percenter; but not too good. Not for this fight, anyway.

Plan A was the long overdue showdown with the erstwhile former Actual world champion, Tyson Fury; who won the World Championship from Wladamir Klitschko in November 2015 and lost it to Oleksandr Usyk in May of 2024.
Over the course of their respective careers, the betting favorite between them has probably shifted several times depending on their most recent outing. For the world, and particularly for the British, that fight still holds some strong meaning, to legacy and to bragging rights. But those hopes were dashed (or delayed, at least), when Fury abruptly announced his latest retirement early this year.

So now, the still active Joshua has got to stay active. But WHO should he fight?

Anything below a top 30-35 opponent would send the message that the former champion is afraid of getting KOd again, but he's GOT to take care not to bite off more than he can chew for this outing!

In my personal estimation, prospective opponents break down like this, below.

What do Boxing Scene people think?


A) Wait for a career finale payday:

Oleksandr Usyk, Ukraine 24-0-0 (14)
Tyson Fury, England 34-2-1 (24)
Daniel Dubois, England 22-2-0 (21)
Joseph Parker, New Zealand 36-3-0 (24)
Agit Kabayel, Turkey 26-0-0 (18)

B) Just Too Dangerious for this fight:

Zhilei Zhang, China 27-3-1 (22)
Andy Ruiz Jr., USA 35-2-1 (22)
Jarrell Miller, USA 26-1-2 (22)

C) Brave Challenge, High Risk:

Derrick Chisora, England 36-13-0(23)
Martin Bakole, Congo 21-2-0. (16)
Fabio Wardley, England 18-0-1 (17)
Moses Itauma, England 11-0-0 (9)
Dillian Whyte, England 31-3-0 (21)
Deontay Wilder, USA 43-4-1 (42)
Joe Joyce, England 16-3-0 (15)

D) Perfect opponents - In Joshua's league:

Efe Ajagba, Nigeria 20-1-0 (14)
Filip Hrgovic, Croatia 17-1-0 (14)
Luis Ortiz, Cuba 34-3-0 (29)
Richard Torrez, USA 12-0-0 (11)
Guido Vianello, Italy 13-2-1 (11)
Michael Hunter, USA 24-1-2 (17)
Justis Huni, Australia 12-0-0 (7)
Lawrence Okolie, England 21-1-0(16)
Frank Sanchez, Cuba 25-1-0 (17)
Jai Opetaia, Australia 27-0-0 (21)
Hughie Fury, England 29-3-0 (16)
Ivan Dychko, Kazachstan 14-0-0 (13)
Jared Anderson, USA 18-1-0 (15)
Bakhodir Jalolov, Uzbek 14-0-0 (14)
Murat Gassiev, Armenia 31-2-0 (24)
Nelson Hysa, Albania 20-0-0 (18)
Chris Billam-Smith, England 20-2-0 (13)


Am I right or wrong?

I don't think there are any real risks for him at this point. People have him written off, as evidence by the list above.

The reality is that he goes straight through the 3 listed as "just too dangerous".

The next category has some interesting ones. The 'perfect opponent' category really doesn't.

It's got to be Fury. That's the obvious fight to make.
If it's just a big payday then Wilder is a clear target.
If he wants credibility then he should be targeting Parker or Dubois. There are other credible fights but those two have relevance given he's fought each of them already.

[dan_cov]

If I'm AJ, I'm looking at Jake Paul

I can't believe this fights an actual possibility and not sure if you're serious or not (as the fight is just that ridiculous and goofy) but I think this is genuinely the fight that makes the most sense.

Take the 50 mill knock Paul spark out in 1 round and call it a day. Why stick around taking knocks from big dangerous lumps like Bakole or whoever for far less.

[Dr Z]

Ah f it, it’s Wilder time or Miller or Whyte would be decent after their history. Ruiz in the states would be decent fun.

Wilder is a sure KO win.

Ruiz is a fat meatball. If he offers him a fight when he 270+ pounds with 6 weeks to go, he should win.

Fury is a fraud. Again AJ should win.

[Hustle]

Joshua vs kabayel is the fight to make if no fury

[TMLT87]

Honestly i'm surprised we never got AJ/Del Boy at some point. Chisora has a fair bit of star power in his own right in the UK, and on a good day hes enough of a threat to make the fight semi interesting.

[PRINCEKOOL]

Anthony Joshua's aim is to become a three times world Heavyweight Champion 'Unlike many other Heavyweight fighters, Joshua's ultimate goals are very clear. Therefore it is inevitable that his next fight is most likely going to be against a top level fighter'.

There is a narrative the thread starter is trying to promote 'That Anthony Joshua is wary of taking on big challenges, and fighting top level Heavyweight fighters, Statistically Anthony Joshua still has the most prolific resume at Heavyweight, in terms of the share number of top level Heavyweight fighters he has overall fought, and beaten'.

As I have stated in many of my previous posts 'It was ultimately Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder in combination who cleared out the Heavyweight Division as the three Heavyweight mountains over the past decade, not Oleksandr Uysk. And it was Anthony Joshua who achieved most of the clearing out of the statistically Heavyweights Division'.

On April 29th 2017 'It was Anthony Joshua not Tyson Fury, who conclusively took the Heavyweight Division into a completely new dynasty. Joshua in his 19th professional fight stepped up, to fight the version of Wladimir Kiltschko who Tyson Fury should have fought in their scheduled rematch. That is the only reason Anthony Joshua defended his titles against Wladimir Kiltschko, because? Tyson Fury pulled out of his scheduled rematch against Wladimir Kiltschko twice, unfortunately due to his then circumstance. Wladimir Kiltschko vs Anthony Joshua is still the greatest Heavyweight title fight of the past 25 years, and it was the fight which forced Kiltschko into retirement, conclusively taking the Heavyweight Division into a completely new dynasty'.

That is why you need to remove many of those fighters 'From Anthony Joshua's serious potential next opponent list. Fighters such as Jarrell Miller are not candidates, Miller is a domestic level American heavyweight, at no point in his career has he ever been rated as a World level fighter'.

There have only really been two World to Elite level American Heavyweight Fighters since the retirement of Evander Holyfield 'Deontay Wilder and Andy Ruiz Junior'.

For me personally I will admit? That I think it was a tactical mistake in Anthony Joshua and his team 'Not immediately taking the rematch against Daniel Dubois. As a fighter and a Champion, I honestly believe Daniel Dubois is a front runner. I am not buying into the media narrative that he is some sort of monster destroyer, beating a out of condition Jarrell Miller over 10 rounds, and Filip Hrgovic, in no way has proven to me that he is not a front runner'.

Beating Jarrell Miller over 10 rounds 'Is like a aspiring World middle distance track and field athlete, beating a novice athlete who is out of condition. Then claiming that this specific performance proves that they are not a front runner at top level, and have supreme levels of endurance'.

Daniel Dubois was done by the middle rounds vs Joe Joyce and Oleksandr Uysk. Yes Dubois showed courage to battle on with an injury vs Joe Joyce, but regardless? Joe Joyce systematically beat him up with his jab, and as the rounds progressed Dubois faded back to black'.

Note: And I am convinced that? Even during his best ever performance vs Anthony Joshua, the momentum in that fight was moving back towards Joshua. All the signs were there in that fight, in round 5 Anthony Joshua went from landing on average 40% of his punches, to over 80% of his punches during round 5. Even after being decked in round 1, the facts of that fight are? Anthony Joshua from the very moment he rose up off the canvas was slowly but surely, minute by minute fighting his way back into the fight. Before he amplified Dubois's punching power, by firstly making a technical mistake i.e. throwing an uppercut while wading forward with his guard completely down. This unforced error, amplified the power of Daniel Dubois which eventually lead to him then being knocked out'.

To conclude: Therefore Anthony Joshua's next opponent both has to be worthy of theatre and the grand stage 'And the potential win has to create serious momentum in Joshua's career. Daniel Dubois II, Joseph Parker II, and I have always liked the trilogy fight against Andy Ruiz Junior III. Anthony Joshua did avenge his loss to Ruiz Junior II, quite easily winning almost all the rounds. I don't think Andy Ruiz Junior won a single round'.

Anthony Joshua achieved the win, but I think a more brutal win would have aided his comeback more forcefully 'That is why I think a trilogy fight against Andy Ruiz Junior III would be a great fight. People may mock Andy Ruiz Junior, but no Heavyweight fighter has been able to beat him since Anthony Joshua'.

If that trilogy fight is to be made 'They should also stage the fight back in New York city. As a competitor, that is precisely in my opinion the type of challenge Anthony Joshua would benefit from at this stage of his career'.

So my top candidates in not real order are 'Daniel Dubois II, Joseph Parker II, Andy Ruiz Junior II, Deontay Wilder or the winner of Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba' etc.

[Marchegiano]

Wilder or Joyce

[crimsonfalcon07]

He's already fought Whyte, but somehow never fought Del Boy, who's sitting in the IBF mandatory spot. He might be able to finagle that fight. Jake Paul, if Paul is really ****** enough to take the fight. Wilder would overdue and a "loser retires" kind of fight. I don't think anyone else is worth fighting from a financial or career standpoint, personally, at least not that would actually take the fight.

[BustedKnuckles]

Joshua vs kabayel is the fight to make if no fury

That's the fight for Kabayel to make, if he can't get Usyk first, but prob not a good move for AJ if he wants to either win safely or cash out.