By Adam Godfrey: Anthony Joshua yesterday revealed the existence of a ‘hit list’ containing potential opponents against which he plans to do battle in the short to medium term future. These are the marquee names that Joshua hopes will someday soon elevate his status, should he maintain his unbeaten record, to that of Boxing Superstar both at home and abroad. If Joshua’s plan purported plan materialises, 2017 could be a big year for fans of the Heavyweight division.
Joshua told Sky Sports “I can’t wait for Tyson Fury to get back, for David Haye to deal with Tony Bellew or Bellew to deal with Haye. Klitchko, Wilder, Joseph Parker-those name are the key names for me. I’ve got them all pinned up somewhere and I’m just going to pluck them off one by one”.
Joshua first has to deal with the man who has been the one of the two star names in the Heavyweight division for the best part of a decade in forty-year-old Ukrainian Wladamir Klitchko (the other name being his brother, Vitali), when the two face off in Wembley stadium this Spring. Although Wladamir has not fought since his plodding defeat to Tyson Fury over a year ago, his name will nevertheless be the biggest on Joshua’s burgeoning résumé, and will bring welcome worldwide exposure to the Watford born Olympic silver medallist. Joshua will be taking the challenge posed by the former Unified Heavyweight Champion seriously, but will expect to come through victorious and with his reputation enhanced.
2016 was a relatively quiet year for the Heavyweight division (despite Dillian Whyte and Derek Chisora’s best efforts), with the biggest names all managing to avoid each other, and a rematch between Fury and Klitchko notably failing to materialise. However, several intriguing matchups have emerged as possibilities; Joshua against Wilder being the fight at the top of many fan’s wish lists. Deontay ‘Bronze Bomber’ Wilder endured a difficult 2016 and beginning of 2017, frustrated as he was by personal injury (a broken right hand and torn bicep) and opponents seemingly intent on scuppering fights by being caught doping. Wilder should also be feeling some urgency, owning, as he does, an unbeaten record of 37 wins containing 36 kos, but absent of any impressive names (not helped by Alexander Povetkin’s failed drug test in May).
A fight between Joshua and Wilder is possible for 2017, although far from a given, especially if the fight is deemed in need of marinating first by their respective teams. The match-up would draw worldwide interest, and a tussle against David Haye would also be a huge draw in the UK, should the former WBA heavyweight champion emerge, as expected, as the victor against Cruiserweight World Champion Tony Bellew. Looking good beating Bellew wouldn’t hurt either.
The other names on Joshua’s list could conceivably attract interest of their own in a number of possible match-ups, and with Cuba’s Luis ‘The Real King Kong’ Ortiz desperate for a big fight as he nears the end of his career and Tyson Fury penciled in to make a comeback, 2017 could see the re-emergence of the Heavyweight division as being one of Boxing’s most intriguing. In fact, there will be little excuse for the powers-that-be to fail in finally delivering the sought after fights over the next eleven months.
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