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Anthony Joshua Offered Dangerous Fight That Would Fast Track Him Back To World Title Shot

Anthony Joshua is looking to plot his way back to the top of the heavyweight division one more time.

Joshua has been a huge star on the world scene over the last decade. His journey started soon after winning a gold medal in the London Olympics and he rose quickly through the pro ranks, collecting world honours on the way.

His first title came in 2016 when he beat Charles Martin inside two rounds for the IBF belt, and then unified against Wladimir Klitschko in an epic battle at Wembley Stadium which involved both men being knocked down.

He added the WBO title with a points win in 2018 when he was taken the distance for the first time by Joseph Parker, and since then there have been plenty of ups and downs.

In June 2019 he took his first loss when he was stopped by late stand-in Andy Ruiz, but won the belts back in a rematch later that year.

In 2021 and 2022, he went into back-to-back fights with Oleksandr Usyk and came out with no belts after losing both contests on points.

Following another rebuild he went into another world title shot against Daniel Dubois in September 2024 but was stopped inside five rounds, and is currently on the sidelines waiting to make his next move.

Anthony Joshua 

Speaking to The Ariel Helwani Show, it was put to Parker, who is the interim WBO champion, that a Joshua rematch was a good option now given that Usyk and Dubois are likely to pursue an undisputed fight.

“Let’s push for it. I agree. As we focus on my career, I think those three names will be next in line. I think [Joshua] would accept the fight with me. It would be a very different fight to 2018. We’re both older, maturer, wiser. The fighter that I was before, sometimes I look back and go ‘who is that guy?’”

Whoever beats Parker – who recently knocked out late replacement opponent Martin Bakole in two rounds – will become the WBO number one and first in line for a shot against current champion Usyk.

The one fight Joshua and the rest of the boxing world wanted to see was against Tyson Fury, but he retired at the end of January after his own pair of losses to Usyk.

Former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has dealt a significant blow to Anthony Joshua’s hopes of a blockbuster showdown after admitting he “can’t be f***ed” with boxing, casting further doubt on his potential return to the ring despite recent rankings speculation.

The 36-year-old “Gypsy King,” who announced his retirement in January following his second consecutive defeat to unified champion Oleksandr Usyk, appears content with life away from the sport according to his cousin and trainer Andy Lee.

“(It’s) just the odd message here and there and he seems very happy. (He said), ‘Andy I’m not f****d.’ That’s what he said. ‘I couldn’t be f****d with it.’

“He’s very happy. As bad as it sounds, it depends what the figure is for Tyson. It has to motivate him to come out of retirement. He seems very happy,” Lee told iFL TV.

Fury’s latest retirement – at least his fifth during his illustrious career – had initially been taken with a pinch of salt by boxing fans and industry insiders, particularly after The Ring Magazine surprisingly reinstated him at number one in their heavyweight rankings last month despite his announced departure from the sport.

 Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua

The British fighter’s inclusion in the prestigious rankings, placing him behind only unified champion Usyk but ahead of IBF champion Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker, had fuelled speculation about a potential comeback for a long-awaited £200 million showdown with bitter rival Joshua.

Saudi boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh has made no secret of his desire to stage the all-British heavyweight clash that has been years in the making.

Speaking to The Stomping Ground, Alalshikh revealed, “I want Tyson (next for Joshua). I spoke with him, but I didn’t talk about boxing. I just check about his health and his family. I think maybe he’ll return. Yes, (I think he will return), I hope so.”

Joshua, who has climbed from seventh to fifth in The Ring’s heavyweight rankings despite not fighting since his knockout defeat to Dubois at Wembley last September, has expressed interest in facing his long-time rival.

“I feel like it’s the best fight (for me),” Joshua told iFL TV.

“People might say Parker, people might say – I don’t know. But I think Fury, commercially, is a great fight and it’s a great man’s fight as well. So I think it makes sense.”

“You could say it’s been years in the making. But listen, the heavyweight division has been thriving. And why I say it’s probably still a great fight is as I said Parker is, for me, a great story of someone that never gives up. And the thing is, there is going to be one winner and one loser. And there’s going to be blood shed. And it ain’t gonna be mine.”

Joshua’s future remains uncertain after turning down the chance to fight Dubois for a second time, citing fitness concerns. With Dubois now focused on securing a rematch with Usyk after their 2023 clash, Joshua appears to be temporarily out in the cold.

Fury announced his retirement earlier this year but there were lingering hopes he would return to fight bitter rival Joshua at Wembley this summer

Tyson Fury has admitted he “can’t be f***ed” with boxing – dealing a blow to Anthony Joshua’s hopes of luring him out of retirement.

Fury hung up his gloves in January, a month after losing his heavyweight rematch with Oleksandr Usyk. It was at least the fifth time he had ‘retired’ during his career, leading to his announcement being taken with a pinch of salt. Boxing fans hopes Fury would be tempted back to the ring for a £200million showdown with bitter rival Joshua.

But according ton boxing trainer Andy Lee, who is also Fury’s cousin, the former world champion has no interest in returning. Asked if he is in touch with Fury, Lee told iFL TV:
“[It’s] just the odd message here and there and he seems very happy. [He said], ‘Andy I’m not f****d.’ That’s what he said. ‘I couldn’t be f****d with it.’ He’s very happy. As bad as it sounds, it depends what the figure is for Tyson. It has to motivate him to come out of retirement. He seems very happy.”

Joshua’s future remains uncertain after turning down the chance to fight Daniel Dubois for a second time. Joshua was knocked out by his fellow Brit at Wembley last September but was not fit enough to accept an immediate sequel.

 Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua

Dubois was due to take on Joseph Parker last month but pulled out two days before the bout after falling ill with a virus. Dubois is now determined to take on fellow champion Usyk in a rematch of their 2023 clash, leaving Joshua out in the cold.

Fury lost twice to Usyk last year with both fights going the 12-round distance. The Brit insists he was robbed in their rematch and alluded to that in his retirement statement. ”Hi everybody, I’m going to make this short and sweet,” he wrote. “I would like to announce my retirement from boxing. It’s been a blast. I’ve loved every single minute of it. And I’m going to end with this… Dick Turpin wore a mask. God bless everybody see you on the other side. Get up!”

Fury was referring to infamous highwayman and robber Turpin from the 17th century who was ultimately executed in 1739 at the age of 33. Fury has not spoken out since his brief social media video and has shown little sign of being tempted back into the ring.

Despite his knockout loss to Daniel Dubois, former two-time world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has moved two spots up in the latest Ring Magazine heavyweight rankings.

Anthony Joshua last fought in September 2024 at Wembley Stadium, where he suffered a knockout defeat against Dubois.

Meanwhile, Oleksandr Usyk remains in a class of his own above the top 10, while Tyson Fury is ranked No.1 despite announcing his retirement in January.

Fury’s decision came after back-to-back losses to Usyk in 2024, the first defeats of his professional career. However, many in the boxing world doubt his retirement is permanent.

Joshua’s rise in the rankings follows significant shifts in the division. Zhilei Zhang and Martin Bakole suffered defeats in Saudi Arabia on the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol II undercard.

Zhang was stopped by a devastating body shot from Agit Kabayel in the sixth round of their WBC interim heavyweight clash, while Bakole was knocked out by Joseph Parker after stepping in on two days’ notice as a late replacement for Dubois.

Bakole’s last-minute decision saw him endure a 3,800-mile journey from Congo to Saudi Arabia, taking three connecting flights. His bravery was widely praised, but the defeat cost him his IBF final eliminator status and a drop in the rankings. Previously ranked No.6, Bakole has now dropped to No.7, while Zhang fell from No.4 to No.6.

Kabayel surged to No.4 following his career-best victory, with Anthony Joshua now positioned at No.5 behind the German fighter Zhilei Zhang. Parker and the remaining heavyweights retained their original rankings.

Latest Ring Magazine Heavyweight Rankings:
Tyson Fury
Daniel Dubois
Joseph Parker
Agit Kabayel
Anthony Joshua
Zhilei Zhang
Martin Bakole
Filip Hrgovic
Fabio Wardley
Efe Ajagba

Anthony Joshua is looking to plot his way back to the top of the heavyweight division one more time.

Joshua has been a huge star on the world scene over the last decade. His journey started soon after winning a gold medal in the London Olympics and he rose quickly through the pro ranks, collecting world honours on the way.

His first title came in 2016 when he beat Charles Martin inside two rounds for the IBF belt, and then unified against Wladimir Klitschko in an epic battle at Wembley Stadium which involved both men being knocked down.

He added the WBO title with a points win in 2018 when he was taken the distance for the first time by Joseph Parker, and since then there have been plenty of ups and downs.

In June 2019 he took his first loss when he was stopped by late stand-in Andy Ruiz, but won the belts back in a rematch later that year.

In 2021 and 2022, he went into back-to-back fights with Oleksandr Usyk and came out with no belts after losing both contests on points.

Following another rebuild he went into another world title shot against Daniel Dubois in September 2024 but was stopped inside five rounds, and is currently on the sidelines waiting to make his next move.

Anthony Joshua 

Speaking to The Ariel Helwani Show, it was put to Parker, who is the interim WBO champion, that a Joshua rematch was a good option now given that Usyk and Dubois are likely to pursue an undisputed fight.

“Let’s push for it. I agree. As we focus on my career, I think those three names will be next in line. I think [Joshua] would accept the fight with me. It would be a very different fight to 2018. We’re both older, maturer, wiser. The fighter that I was before, sometimes I look back and go ‘who is that guy?’”

Whoever beats Parker – who recently knocked out late replacement opponent Martin Bakole in two rounds – will become the WBO number one and first in line for a shot against current champion Usyk.

The one fight Joshua and the rest of the boxing world wanted to see was against Tyson Fury, but he retired at the end of January after his own pair of losses to Usyk.

Tyson Fury has surprisingly returned to The Ring Magazine’s heavyweight rankings at the number one spot despite announcing his retirement from boxing last month, as speculation grows about a potential super-fight with Anthony Joshua, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The 36-year-old “Gypsy King” stunned the boxing world in January when he proclaimed his fifth retirement from the sport following his second consecutive defeat to unified champion Oleksandr Usyk, but The Ring’s latest rankings suggest the publication isn’t convinced by Fury’s decision to hang up his gloves.

Fury has been placed at the top of the heavyweight rankings behind only Usyk, who holds the WBC, WBA and WBO titles and is recognised as The Ring’s heavyweight champion. His inclusion puts him ahead of IBF champion Daniel Dubois and the resurgent Joseph Parker, who occupy the second and third spots respectively.

Meanwhile, Joshua has received a significant boost in the same rankings, climbing two places from seventh to fifth despite not having fought since his knockout defeat to Dubois at Wembley Stadium in September.

The British-Nigerian’s rise comes as a result of losses suffered by Zhilei Zhang and Martin Bakole on the Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol II undercard in Saudi Arabia last weekend.

Fury had been removed from the list after his announced retirement but his latest presence in the rankings comes amid growing speculation about a potential comeback. Saudi boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh is keen to lure the former WBC champion back for a long-awaited showdown with Joshua.

Speaking to The Stomping Ground, Alalshikh revealed; “I want Tyson (next for Joshua). I spoke with him, but I don’t talk about boxing.

 Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua

“I just check about his health and his family. I think maybe he’ll return. Yes, (I think he will return), I hope so.”

While Fury has remained silent on the prospect of a ring return since his retirement announcement, Joshua has expressed interest in facing his long-time rival, acknowledging the commercial and sporting appeal of such a contest.

“I feel like it’s the best fight (for me),” Joshua told iFL TV.

“People might say Parker, people might say – I don’t know. But I think Fury, commercially, is a great fight and it’s a great man’s fight as well. So I think it makes sense.

“You could say it’s been years in the making. But listen, the heavyweight division has been thriving. And why I say it’s probably still a great fight is as I said Parker is, for me, a great story of someone that never gives up. And the thing is, there is going to be one winner and one loser. And there’s going to be blood shed. And it ain’t gonna be mine.”

Fury was removed from all four major sanctioning body rankings last month after announcing his retirement in a brief social media video where he stated; “Hi everybody, I’m going to make this short and sweet. I’d like to announce my retirement from boxing, it has been a blast, I’ve loved every single minute of it.”

Should Fury decide to return, a blockbuster clash with Joshua would undoubtedly be the biggest in British boxing history and a defining moment for both fighters’ legacies, regardless of the outcome.

Anthony Joshua has risen two places in the latest Ring Magazine heavyweight rankings.

The Watford powerhouse hasn’t stepped foot in the ring since being flattened by Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in September.

However, he has moved up from No.7 to No.5 in the heavyweight top 10 following Zhilei Zhang and Martin Bakole’s defeats last weekend on the Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol II undercard.

Zhang was stopped by a sickening body shot from Agit Kabayel in the sixth round of their WBC ‘interim’ heavyweight clash.

Meanwhile, Bakole got knocked out by a clubbing blow from Joseph Parker that caught him on the top of the head.

The Congolese heavyweight stepped in to replace Daniel Dubois on two days’ notice and embarked on a 3,800 mile trip from Congo to Saudi Arabia that required three connecting flights.

Bakole received significant praise from the boxing fraternity for taking the fight despite the seemingly insurmountable odds stacked against him, although the defeat did cost him dearly.

Not only did he lose the IBF final eliminator status for his upcoming clash with Efe Ajagba but he also dropped one place in the Ring Magazine rankings.

Bakole was placed No.6 in the previous ratings while Zhang was ranked No.4.

As a result of their recent setbacks, Bakole fell to No.7 and Zhang plummeted to No.6.

Kabayel rose from No.5 to No.4 after his career-best win, with AJ slotting in one position behind the German.

Parker and every other heavyweight remained in their original positions.

Ring Magazine heavyweight rankings

Anthony Joshua knows the ‘menace’ of Joseph Parker and will not want a rematch, says the New Zealander’s promoter David Higgins.

Joshua watched from ringside as Parker produced a ruthless knockout victory over Martin Bakole, who stepped in as a replacement opponent after Daniel Dubois was ruled out through illness.

Parker’s promoter Higgins believes the Dubois vs Parker fight might not be rescheduled, but has raised doubts about whether Joshua will take a rematch with the Kiwi instead.

“Joe would jump in with AJ in a heartbeat but I reckon AJ wouldn’t take the fight,” Higgins told Sky Sports. That’s my view.

“I think AJ is a nice guy and he’s had a good career but I think in recent times he hasn’t looked comfortable in the ring, particularly in that last fight. He didn’t want to be there.

“The way that Joseph is fighting, it would be a very risky call by him and his handlers to jump in the ring with Parker. Most boxers take the lower risk option, except for Joseph Parker. He takes the highest risk and the toughest option.”

Parker was beaten on points by Joshua in their first fight in 2018, but the former WBO world champion is enjoying the most impressive spell of his career, with recent wins over Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang and Bakole.

Anthony Joshua 

“I think fight by fight, the last three, Joseph is establishing more credibility, more menace and fight by fight, they will all be going, ‘This fighter is dangerous.’

“After the other day, they’ll all be going, ‘He really is dangerous.”

“We’ll see what happens next. We’ll wait and see what the Saudi authorities and Queensberry offer next and we’ll go from there.

“Joseph would like to get back in the ring as soon as possible. Four months. He doesn’t mess around, he just wants to keep going.

“Anywhere, it would be ideal in the summer.”

The WBO announced Parker as the mandatory challenger for Oleksandr Usyk after his win over Martin Bakole.

But Usyk, who has confirmed that he will retire after two more fights, is expected to take a rematch against Dubois for the undisputed world heavyweight titles.

According to Higgins, Anthony Joshua is fearful of the form of Joseph Parker and will not accept a rematch.

British-born Nigerian boxer Anthony Joshua has been accused of not wanting a massive fight.

According to the New Zealander’s promoter David Higgins, Joshua is aware of Joseph Parker’s threat and will not desire a rematch.

As Daniel Dubois was sidelined by illness, Parker defeated Martin Bakole a replacement via brutal knockout while Joshua watched from the ringside. .

Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker

Higgins, Parker’s promoter, is sceptical that Joshua will accept a rematch with the Kiwi.

With recent victories over Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang, and Bakole, the former WBO world champion is having the best run of his career, despite Parker losing to Joshua on points in their first fight in 2018.

Following his victory over Martin Bakole, the WBO declared Parker Oleksandr Usyk’s mandatory opponent.

To regain the undisputed world heavyweight titles, Usyk is anticipated to rematch Dubois.

Joshua is expected to return to the ring later this year with his promoter working on a fight against the retired Tyson Fury.

Anthony Joshua’s trainer, Ben Davison, has claimed that a heavyweight contest between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury is closer than we might think.

Speaking to Oddschecker, the 28-year-old trainer said the following when quizzed on whether we might finally see a meeting between two of the United Kingdom’s most popular and talented heavyweights.

“I think there’s more chance of it happening now than ever,” Davison said. “With the introduction of Riyadh Season and them having the relationship with both sides, bringing all the broadcasters together and everything else we’ve already mentioned. It’s the fight that boxing fans want to see.”

Davison has trained both Fury and Joshua, and when asked if he believes whether both men want the fight he was clear in his response.

“Yeah of course they would. It’s a legacy defining fight for them both. I always say, I think it’s crucial when you are coming through to have a dance partner and they’ve been each other’s dance partners for long enough now. I think it would have massive interest and it’s the one that everyone wants to see.”

Davison has also had his say on a potential rematch between heavyweight champions Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois. Usyk won their original meeting in 2023, but the bout was overshadowed by a low-blow called against Dubois.

“Yeah I do [think that Usyk wins the rematch], I don’t think Daniel [Dubois] has changed that much. I think he still has the same tendencies from their first fight, there is no shaming a loss to Usyk, obviously. He’s put his name down as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, in my opinion. I think that the fight won’t look too different, if I’m being honest.”