Joshua made a major statement in Saudi on Saturday night (Picture: Getty)
Anthony Joshua will be able to enjoy his Christmas worry-free with his boxing prospects looking extremely bright once again heading into 2024.
The two-time heavyweight champion put on a clinical display up against Otto Wallin in the headline act of ‘Day of Reckoning’ in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.
With some of his old swagger back, Joshua connected with accurate and spiteful punches from the opening bell. The Swedish southpaw was already battered and bloodied by the time his corner pulled him out of the fight at the end of the fifth round.
It was meant to be a warm-up of sorts, a final hurdle ahead of the long-awaited showdown with Deontay Wilder in March next year. Those plans however went up in flames as ‘The Bronze Bomber’ suffered a shock defeat to Joseph Parker on the same night.
During a sometimes frosty build-up to fight night, Joshua admitted his future in boxing would be uncertain if he came up short against Wallin, who was ranked no2 with the IBF and considered a very capable opponent. But Saturday’s performance, which showed off the fruits of a very promising new partnership with Ben Davison, proved there is much more to come from the Olympian.
Joshua did not close the door on the Wilder fight as he celebrated Saturday’s victory and even offered words of support for his rival. But in reality, that fight is now as far away as it has ever been.
Above all else, the Briton is desperate to become a three-time world champion with his promoter Eddie Hearn eager to explore that option in the form of the IBF world title, currently in the possession of Oleksandr Usyk.
Hrgovic is the mandatory challenger for the IBF title with Joshua no2 ranked.
It will be one of the four world titles on the line with the undefeated Ukrainian and Tyson Fury meet on 17 February. The IBF are adamant the winner of that bout must next defend the belt against their mandatory challenger in Filip Hrgovic. The very likely possibility of Fury and Usyk ignoring the sanctioning body and heading straight into a rematch however means the winner will likely be stripped of the IBF belt.
In that scenario, Hrgovic and Joshua, who is ranked no2 with the IBF after his win over Wallin, would be in line to fight for the vacant title.
‘If it’s the heavyweight championship of the world or fight an opponent, I will always choose the heavyweight championship’, Joshua said on Saturday night.
Hrgovic, the undefeated Croatian who eased past Mark de Mori in a ridiculous mismatch on Saturday’s undercard, would be a compelling test for Joshua in a meeting between two former Olympians.
There are a host of alternative options. Zhilei Zhang, the Chinese heavyweight Joshua beat on his way to Olympic gold in 2012, has been eager to settle that score. After two destructive wins over Joe Joyce, the 40-year-old is among the biggest names in the division and is the mandatory challenger for the WBO title.
Parker, the man who spectacularly derailed Joshua’s plans for early 2024, is another intriguing possibility. Joshua beat the New Zealander in 2018, taking his WBO title at a sold put Principality Stadium in Wales.
Parker a huge threat at the top of the division (Picture: Getty)
On Saturday night’s evidence, Parker is a much better operator than he was during his world title reign, showing he has the craft and power to trouble the best the division has to offer. Still only 31, his future is also burning bright and a rematch with Joshua could be a natural next step for both men.
Francis Ngannou could be the most lucrative option out there. The former UFC champion turned in a thrilling performance on his professional boxing debut in October, flooring Fury in the third round before losing on a controversial split decision.
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The Cameroonian, who is now signed with MMA promotion the Professional Fighters League [PFL], has been in talks for a mixed rules contest with Wilder but Saturday’s events in Saudi mean a war with Joshua would be everyone’s preferred option.
Of course, hopes of one day staging Fury vs Joshua in a Battle of Britain were given a much-needed shot in the arm on Saturday while Davison is eager for the Watford fighter to meet Usyk for a third time, believing there are holes in the Ukrainian’s armour he and his team have identified and can exploit.
A fight against either man is unlikely to even be a remote possibly until the end of 2024. But heading into the New Year, Joshua is back where he wants to be.
MORE : Anthony Joshua sends message to Tyson Fury after dominant Otto Wallin victory
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The two-time world champion can look forward to a 2024 packed full of huge fights.
