As of today, Anthony Joshua has to rethink his approach. After boxing star Tyson Fury retired, the former world champion is missing a dance partner for a big fight. Promoter Eddie Hearn lists possible opponents for his protégé and also names the German Agit Kabayel. He’s ready.
The long-awaited British blockbuster between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua is off the table for now. Fury has said bye-bye to boxing (again), so Joshua will have to look for another opponent for a big fight.
“If it’s not Fury, it’s just about the heavyweight world championship, Daniel Dubois against Joseph Parker,” said Joshua promoter Eddie Hearn on Sky Sports about the IBF World Championships on February 22nd in Riyadh.
Heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk (WBA, WBC and WBO champion) is not an issue for AJ after two defeats (2021/22) – but Dubois is. The 35-year-old suffered a bitter knockout defeat against the Englishman last fall in front of 98,000 fans at Wembley Stadium. The former world champion demanded revenge while still in the ring.
“At this point in your career, you want the biggest fights and try to become world champion for a third time,” Hearn said. In an interview with “Seconds Out”, the 45-year-old listed six possible opponents for Joshua: Dubois, Parker, Deontay Wilder, Martin Bakole, Zhang Zhilei and Agit Kabayel.
Boxing: “Let’s go!” Kabayel would fight Joshua
The latter will meet the Chinese Zhang on February 22nd – it’s about the “interim” World Championship at the WBC association and the status as mandatory challenger to world champion Usyk.
Kabayel, the “boy from the pot” against superstar Joshua? No problem for the Bochum resident. “I’m ready, let’s go,” said Kabayel on “Sky Sports”: “Everything is interesting. I’m a fighter. I’m a sportsman. That’s how it is.”
Hearn has said several times that Joshua will return to the ring in May or June. “AJ wants to fight, he still loves the sport,” he said. The Englishman is counting on Fury – once again – retiring and the super fight to still take place.
Boxing manager Bernd Bönte also sees it that way. “If I had to bet now, I would say: Fury will definitely come back at some point,” said Bönte sport.de. The only question is when the comeback will take place.
The experienced manager suspects that Fury’s supposed retirement is a calculation. “I could well imagine that it’s another story in which he waits, resigns and then gets a lot of money from Turki Al-Sheikh (the influential Saudi boxing boss, ed.) for him wants to be brought back for a big fight against Joshua.”