By Gav Duthie: The date is set but we are no closer to learning the next step in the Anthony Joshua journey. The O2 Arena is booked for April 9 but no undercard or opponent has been mentioned for Joshua 15-0 (15). A couple of weeks ago Eddie discussed 8 potential opponents for the date but as time passes many of these have made other arrangements.
What Eddie said:
Eddie Hearn told IFL TV that the main 3 opponents they were looking at were
– Bryant Jennings
– Bermane Stiverne
– Johann Duhaupas
Of these three Duhaupas looks set to face former European champion Robert Helenius on April 2 for the WBC Silver title.
Eddie went on to say that another 5 have thrown their names into the mix which were.
– Hughie fury
– David Haye
– Joseph Parker
– Jarell Miller
– Dereck Chisora
Again this is a decent list for his 16th pro fight but most seem to have other opportunities in mind. Hughie Fury told (World Boxing News) that he is facing a world ranked opponent in a big fight in March (rumored to be Andrey Fedosov 28-3 (23)). David Haye has also pre-booked May 21 at the O2 Arena so is highly unlikely to face Joshua. Dereck Chisora declined the chance to face Joshua in favor of facing Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev for the Heavyweight European Title. Joseph Parker is set to continue his rise at home in New Zealand with a date booked for April 17. He has made a bit of noise about fighting Joshua but this seems further down the road.
Smile. The simplest form of intimidation. #AJBoxing pic.twitter.com/zStkBaIe59
— Anthony Joshua (@anthonyfjoshua) February 8, 2016
From the list of 8 there are now only 3 who are not tied down with other commitments. Bermane Stiverne, Bryant Jennings and Jarell Miller. Of this list I wouldn’t be happy with Miller he has an extreme lack of discipline which sees him going anywhere from 250lbs-285lbs on fight night despite being only 6″4. The other two I would be interested in but there hasn’t been much noise coming from there camps.
The IBF
The two potential fights that have not been talked about much are the offers that have came in from the IBF. The organization have offered Anthony Joshua a final eliminator with Cameroonian Carlos Takam for the mandatory position.
Champion: Charles Martin
1. Not rated
2. Not rated
3. Erkan Teper
4. Anthony Joshua
5. Carlos Takam
With Erkan Teper’s drug suspension, Joshua is actually the current highest ranked fighter with the IBF and newly crowned champion Charles Martin 23-0 (21) has said forget the eliminator I will fight Joshua now.
When speaking to RingTV.com Martin said “If you got all kind of hype behind you then I want to fight you. Everyone is saying this kid is the next big thing, well I want to fight him”.
Joshua’s team feel he is not quite ready and I can see why. When I compare him to 1976 Olympic Gold medalist Leon Spinks who won a world title in his 8th fight it was a big mistake. He beat an aging Muhammad Ali and then lost the rematch eventually retiring with a record of 26-17-3 (14). Once he fought that first fight at world level there was no going back. Similarly I think AJ can beat Charles Martin but then Pandora’s box would be open and he wouldn’t be able to develop slowly because everyone would be gunning for him.
The hype is not Anthony Joshua’s fault, he has only ever said he is still learning but the media are hyping him up and all the governing bodies have him highly ranked. In saying that as a fan I would love to see him face Charles Martin to see where he really is as a boxer.
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