Anthony Joshua is scheduled to challenge three-belt heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in a rematch from their September battle in which Usyk dethroned the Englishman to win the belts. No date has been locked in for the sequel.
But with Usyk joining the Ukrainian defense battalion in his country's war with Russia, it is unknown when the bout would occur. So Joshua could look elsewhere to keep sharp if the fight doesn't happen relatively soon. Deontay Wilder, Otto Wallin, and Joe Joyce have been mentioned as possibilities if Usyk cannot compete in the near future.
Who will Joshua face if he doesn't get Usyk next in an interim fight? Joshua's promoter at Matchroom Boxing, Eddie Hearn, has a couple of ideas.
"They said to me, 'Who do you think is most likely? And I said to him, ‘Look, you're gonna fight Usyk. I think you should fight a southpaw'." Hearn said on Monday's edition of The DAZN Boxing Show.
"I think his preparation for that fight whether that's Ortiz, whether that's Wallin, but I think that would make sense. So we'll have to see. Most importantly, we'll wait to hear from Alex Krassyuk (Usyk's promoter), which should be fairly imminent. If they say to us, we're ready to go in June, we'll proceed with the Usyk fight. If they say we'd appreciate more time we'll go in October or something like that, then we'll lock that in as well."
Hearn says Joshua has no issues postponing the rematch because of what is going with Usyk. He's of the feeling that Usyk won't be ready to go for a fight of this magnitude in the next couple of months.
One thing Hearn wants to make sure of if the conversation gets to that point is ensuring Joshua gets his opportunity to face Usyk whenever he is ready.
"I had that first conversation with Alex Krassyuk Thursday, I think or Friday," Hearn said.
"That's a very uncomfortable conversation to have because right now, there's a lot more on their mind than rematching Anthony Joshua. At the same time, we do need some direction because we have to plan the future of AJ.
"So I just said, ‘Look, our fight is supposed to take place in June. Ultimately, if it does, you're gonna have to start training camp in two or three weeks. If you need more time, it’s no problem’.
"One thing we won't accept, and we don't want is the opportunity at that rematch to go away. AJ could have been paid a lot of money for that opportunity to go away, and he wouldn't accept it. So that's the absolute priority—the opportunity for AJ to try and win his world championship belts back.
"Now, if Usyk won't be ready in June, which I don't think he will be, then we would like to have an interim bout. AJ is fit. He's ready. He is ready to fight. Now, AJ’s idea of an interim bout is very different to my idea of an interim bout. AJ’s list that he sends me is Deontay Wilder and Luis Ortiz, Otto Wallin, Joe Joyce. I'm thinking, ‘Look, I know you want to have a real fight, but we're all waiting. This is a tougher fight to be waiting for Usyk. Not a fight that might be more dangerous than Usyk’."