Anthony Joshua Next Fight: Potential opponent and date

Anthony Joshua has his sights set on becoming a three-time heavyweight champion of the world in 2024 and here's everything you need to know about his potential next bout.

Speculation is rife as to who AJ will face next after his sensational KO success over Francis Ngannou in March.

The former two-time heavyweight champion of the world lost all of his world titles when Oleksandr Usyk inflicted a second professional defeat upon him in September 2021, before following that up with another points success less than a year later.

Since then however, Joshua has bounced back with four straight wins, and looked far more like the fighter who took the world by storm when he stood as the leading figure in the heavyweight division.

Will it be Joshua v Usyk 3, could we finally get to witness the much-anticipated domestic dust-up with Tyson Fury, or does Filip Hrgovic lie in wait?

Here's everything you need to know about Anthony Joshua's next fight...

Anthony Joshua's next fight opponent

No opponent has yet been confirmed for Anthony Joshua, but it appears as though he is in-line to tackle the winner of the undisputed showdown between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.

Whilst a rematch clause has been inserted into the contract for Fury v Usyk, the WBC have confirmed that AJ could instead be propelled into mandatory position for an immediate crack at the winner.

"The WBC was presented a sanction request which was to fight for the undisputed," WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman said.

"The WBC accepted that sanctioning and we accepted the rematch they have requested. But, if it is not anything to do with contractual or promotion, we would absolutely accept the winner to fight Joshua.

"The WBC has been very much attentive to this matter. So, we have completely freed the ground for the undisputed, for a rematch, and for another fight of that level.

"The WBC position right now is very open to support the undisputed champion taking on the fights that the fans want to see."

Anthony Joshua's next fight date

Anthony Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn says it's imperative that his fighter stays active in 2024 as he chases world titles.

AJ has bounced back from successive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk with four straight wins of his own, including that concussive stoppage of Francis Ngannou last time out, and it appears as though he could be in-line to finally face his long-time foe Tyson Fury providing the Morecambe man prevails in May.

Should Usyk win the bout, then a rematch will likely take place, with the possibility that the IBF heavyweight strap would have to be vacated, opening up the possibility of a showdown between Joshua and Filip Hrgovic this summer.

However, the fight that everybody wants to see is Fury v Joshua for all of the blue-riband division marbles.

Either way, it appears incredibly likely that Joshua's next opponent will be one of Fury, Usyk or Hrgovic - with at least one world title on the line.

Mark Mothershaw

• • 
  •