Joshua marches on but the Wilder fight is off the table for now (Picture: Getty)
Eddie Hearn says Anthony Joshua will have a world title showdown against Filip Hrgovic next after his proposed fight with Deontay Wilder was derailed.
Joshua and Wilder both fought on the ‘Day of Reckoning’ card in Saudi Arabia. Plans were in place for the heavyweight rivals to meet next year if both emerged unscathed against Otto Wallin and Joseph Parker respectively.
The Briton took care of his end of the deal with a dominant win over Wallin. Parker however had other ideas, beating Wilder on a wide points decision after turning in a thrilling performance against ‘The Bronze Bomber’.
Wilder’s defeat will surely end any immediate hopes of that fight taking place in 2024 but Joshua has another option ahead of him in Hrgovic.
The Croatian, who secured a first round knockout win over Mark de Mori in a total mismatch on the undercard, is the mandatory challenger for the IBF title, currently in the possession of Oleksandr Usyk who also holds the WBA and WBO belts.
Usyk will put those titles on the line against WBC champion Tyson Fury on 17 February in historic bout to crown the division’s first undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis.
That fight deal includes a two-way rematch clause. The IBF however have made it clear the winner must fight their mandatory challenger in Hrgovic next, with the sanctioning body likely to strip February’s winner of the belt if that rematch clause is exercised.
Hrgovic also featured on the card in Saudi Arabia (Picture: Getty)
In that scenario, Hrgovic and Joshua, ranked no2 with the IBF after his win over Wallin, would be in line to fight for the vacant title with Hearn confirming those plans on Saturday night.
‘It was a tough decision between the championship and Deontay Wilder,’ Hearn told DAZN. ‘We signed for Wilder, he lost tonight, that’s OK, it happens in boxing.
‘Maybe it is a blessing because this guy is about championships. He wants to become a three-time heavyweight world champion.
‘It will be Filip Hrgovic against AJ for the world title. Let’s see him become a three-time champion.
‘I am so happy to see him smiling and performing so well.
‘He is a dangerous man when he is in that kind of mood. 2024 is going to be very interesting, every heavyweight should be on notice – he is back.’
MORE : Anthony Joshua back to his destructive best as he beats Otto Wallin in Saudi Arabia
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A world title could become available for ‘AJ’ next.