Anthony Joshua should target heavyweight with 97.67% KO rate if Tyson Fury stays retired
Anthony Joshua should be looking at facing another formidable heavyweight if the Tyson Fury fight doesn’t happen.
Joshua has some big names on his resume, holding wins against the likes of Wladimir Klitschko, Dillian Whyte, Francis Ngannou, and more.
The 35-year-old was aiming for a blockbuster all-British showdown against Tyson Fury in 2025. Fury, though, announced his retirement earlier this year. So now, he seemingly must look elsewhere.
Joshua remains a superstar name and a big draw in the heavyweight division. He could still land some major fights even if the Fury showdown doesn’t take place.
Deontay Wilder should be on Anthony Joshua’s radar if Tyson Fury doesn’t return
Joshua should look to fight Deontay Wilder should the Fury fight fail to materialise.
Joshua, Fury, and Wilder are three of the most notable heavyweights of the past decade. Between them, the trio has held multiple world titles.
Fury and Wilder have given fans a memorable trilogy, with the first fight ending in a draw and ‘The Gypsy King’ winning the other two via knockout.
Joshua, however, has never fought either Fury or Wilder. ‘AJ’ suffered a vicious knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in his last fight in September 2024.
There are other potential opponents for Joshua as well, like Agit Kabayel or a Joseph Parker rematch. Fighting an up-and-comer like Kabayel is a lose-lose for ‘AJ’. On the other hand, he has already beaten Parker once.
The Wilder fight, though, could be a legacy builder, even if it’s perhaps a bit too late. Like Joshua and Fury, Wilder is a former heavyweight champion.
The Alabama native is currently on a decline, but he is arguably the scariest knockout artist in boxing history. Wilder has earned a ludicrous 42 of his 43 wins by knockout.
At 39, Wilder is no longer the fighter he once was, but neither is Joshua. The pair, however, could still attract a lot of fans if they square off against each other.
Joshua vs Wilder is a fight that fans have wanted to see for a long time. Both fighters could potentially secure a big payday and walk off into the sunset.
How does Anthony Joshua compare to Deontay Wilder?
Given Wilder wins his next fight, a Joshua fight at the end of the year would be ideal. Statistically, he and Joshua could make for an enticing fight as both are known for their knockout prowess.
Wilder, meanwhile, has lost four of his last five fights. He was brutally finished by Zhilei Zhang in his last fight. ‘The Bronze Bomber’, one of the greatest knockout artists of the modern era, returns to action on June 27 against Tyrrell Anthony Herndon.
Joshua is currently nursing an elbow injury and had to go under the knife. Promoter Eddie Hearn expects ‘AJ’ to return to training in six weeks. He thinks Joshua could potentially fight in October or November.
Whoever Joshua faces next could make or break him – so he needs to make it count.
