By Barry Holbrook: Eddie Hearn revealed the three-fight plan for Anthony Joshua on Monday for 2023, beginning in April against a top 15 opponent. Hearn isn’t saying who Joshua’s April opponent will be, but he said it will be a recognizable fighter.
The idea is for Joshua (24-3, 22 KOs) to become a three-time heavyweight champion by the third fight this year against WBC champ Tyson Fury.
According to Hearn, the second fight of the year for Joshua will be in the summer, likely against Dillian Whyte in a stadium fight. However, Hearn says it’s possible that Joshua could face former WBC champion Deontay Wilder. Joshua along with his new trainer will make that decision.
The third fight in 2023 for Joshua will be against either Wilder or Tyson Fury.
Joshua’s fights in 2023:
- April: Top 15 opponent
- Summer: Dillian Whyte or Deontay Wilder
- Autumn: Tyson Fury or Wilder
“Anthony Joshua and Canelo Alvarez are in the works to announce that first slate of 2023,” said Eddie Hearn to the DAZN Boxing Show about two separate fights that he’s on the verge of announcing for these two superstars.
“You’re talking about two of the biggest names in boxing in Canelo and Anthony Joshua. AJ is fighting a month earlier than Canelo Alvarez, so he’ll be pretty much ready to go with an announcement in a week or so.
“We pretty much know his date. We’re down to three or four opponents that we’re talking to. Obviously, rumors of his new training team, and there will be a full announcement from Anthony Joshua on that.
“He’s in a great place and ready to start camp, actually. I believe this week that camp will begin. Honestly, I couldn’t give Anthony Joshua an opponent that he would turn down. It’s more about the training team.
“The plan now is to rebuild him to become a three-time heavyweight world champion, and the trainer will want to take the appropriate steps to do that.
“It’s all very well being brave, listening to Twitter, going out, and fighting Deontay Wilder [next] and doing this and doing that, but there has to be a plan, a smart plan.
“A smart plan is he wants to return against a top 15 guy in a credible fight and return in the summer against probably Dillian Whyte and then move forward against Deontay Wilder or Tyson Fury in a mega-fight in the ultimate 2023.
“To me, the key here is to see him box three times this year. He’s been inactive for a mixture of Covid and big events, mandatorys and negotiations, and fights in the Middle East.
“He’s excited. He’s in a great place mentally. Like I said, camp is about to start for him, and I expect to see s great performance from him in April.
“There’s an open line of communication with [Deontay Wilder’s co-manager] Shelly Finkel. He’s [Wilder] going to fight Andy Ruiz. That fight has been ordered, and AJ is going to come back in the first week of April.
“When people talk about rebuilding. We’re not rebuilding here. I’m looking for momentum. I’m not talking about [Joshua] fighting against a guy you’ve never heard of. I’m talking about a top 15 guy that AJ can go in and work with a new training team and have a big stadium fight in the summer.
“I’m not ruling out fight #2 of the year could be Deontay Wilder, but we’ve got a plan. This guy is one of the biggest stars in boxing. This guy has so much more to give to the heavyweight division, but this is also a very important moment that we must get right.
“Those lines of communication are open with Deontay Wilder, and we know it’s a huge fight. We know that fight does massive numbers in the UK, U.S, and Middle East. It doesn’t really matter, and that’s the fight.
“I truly believe Deontay Wilder & Tyson Fury are nailed on for 2023. They have to be because AJ isn’t interested in having three or four-nothing fights. He’ll listen to his training team and take their advice.
“He wants to be in the biggest fights possible, and he’s proved that his whole career,” said Hearn.