By Charles Brun: Anthony Joshua is confident that he’ll be facing Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder in the near future despite the possibility of him suffering a second loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. in their rematch on December 7.
AJ and Fury need to win their rematches
Joshua (22-1, 21 KOs) will be facing IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Ruiz Jr. (33-1, 22 KOs) in Saudi Arabia on DAZN in the U.S, and Sky Sports Box Office in the UK. Before Joshua can think of fighting lineal heavyweight champion Fury (29-0-1, 20 KOs) next year, he’s got to beat Ruiz, who destroyed him on June 1 in a 7th round knockout.
Fury has to win his February 22 rematch against Wilder. What complicates Fury from accomplishing that goal is the big cut that he suffered over his right eye in his recent fight against Otto Wallin on September 14. The cut may not be healed by February, and even if it is, Fury would be at risk of the cut reopening once Wilder hits him on the eye.
Joshua says fans will see Fury fight
“I’d say Fury at Wembley. The best of Britain,” said Joshua to skysports.com in saying what his ideal fight would be. “It is a massive fight. You will [see it]. Yes, 100 percent…Of course. We’re in the same division, in the same era. We have to fight each other,” said Joshua.
Joshua and Fury could fight each other under less than desirable conditions with both coming off of losses. Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing says there will be a trilogy fight between AJ and Ruiz. If Joshua loses to Ruiz on December 7th, he’ll likely risk everything and go straight into the trilogy match. As for Fury, he has two fights against Wilder, and he could lose both of those.
Yeah, Joshua and Fury could still face each other at Wembley Stadium. However, it’s highly possible that the two could be coming off of consecutive losses. British boxing fans might still be interested in seeing them fight each no matter how many losses the two absorb before then. Look at Dereck Chisora. He has 9 defeats on his resume, and the UK fans still come to his fights in large numbers to watch him compete.
Danny Garcia spotted insecurity in Joshua
“I honestly believe Ruiz has got his number,” said former two division world champion Danny Garcia to secondsout in predicting Ruiz Jr. winning the rematch against Joshua on December 7. “When I saw them face off, I saw insecurity in Joshua. I think he’s confident, but there’s something on the back of his head, I don’t know what it is, but I think Ruiz can pull it off again,” said Garcia.
Joshua did look insecure during his face offs with Ruiz. AJ tried to look stern to stare Ruiz down in a menacing manner, but he looked mentally shaken. The knockout has done a number on Joshua, and can’t hide his insecurities.
