Anthony Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed that the heavyweight contender’s next fight will take place in September with the winner of Filip Hrgovic vs. Daniel Dubois as the likeliest opponent – with one Deontay Wilder-shaped caveat.
While gearing up for this weekend’s ‘5 vs 5’ card, Hearn said he will this week be joined in Saudi Arabia by Joshua, who is coming “off his own back” to view his next potential rival up close. For context on Joshua’s own back, he was “invited” to attend the recent Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury showdown but, nonetheless, one presumes he’ll still be made to feel welcome.
It had been expected that the clash between Hrgovic and Dubois would be for the vacant IBF heavyweight title with the organization set to strip undisputed king Oleksandr Usyk if he agreed to take on Tyson Fury in an immediate rematch. However, with that return now confirmed for December 21, the Ukrainian – with the backing of Saudi paymaster Turki Alalshikh – has asked the sanctioning body for an exception to allow all the belts to again be at stake.
The IBF, who this week demanded that Canelo Alvarez fulfil his duties at super-middleweight or relinquish their title, are now in the process of considering that appeal. Should they ultimately abide by their own rules and strip Usyk for his failure to fulfil his mandatory requirement (Hrgovic is currently rated as the IBF’s No.1 contender), it follows that a September clash between Joshua (ranked fourth) and Hrgovic or Dubois (ranked third) will be for the vacant title.
Some of the marketability in such a contest might be lost, however, if the IBF grant Usyk’s request. Whether the belt is on the line or not, a showdown between Joshua and Wilder – if the American rediscovers his old form against Zhilei Zhang this weekend – would be significantly bigger.
“The frontrunner to face AJ next is the winner of Hrgovic-Dubois, and hopefully it will be for the [IBF] world title but, at the same time, if Deontay Wilder comes and looks sensational maybe it reignites Joshua against Wilder,” Hearn teased.
The promoter, who is currently in discussions with both George Warren and Alalshikh about the Joshua event, indicated that the opponent will be confirmed in the coming weeks with a press conference already provisionally booked for “June 24 or June 25”.
Should everything go to plan, then, we can expect the leading challenger to whomever emerges triumphant from Usyk-Fury II to already be firmly in place.
“Great news that the rematch is made between Usyk and Fury because it’s a huge fight and I’m kind of glad it’s not in October because you get to August and [someone] is not quite ready and stuff like that,” Hearn added. “It gives the guys enough time.”
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