Hearn reveals options for Joshua’s next fight: Wilder, Whyte, Bakole and more

Eddie Hearn has revealed eight potential options being considered for Anthony Joshua’s next fight this summer if his primary target, Tyson Fury, decides to remain in retirement.

Fury suddenly retired this week in an unexpected move after losing to unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in their December 21 rematch. Hearn still thinks Fury isn’t serious and just wants to lure him back with a big offer.

Hearn’s shortlist

If Tyson remains retired, Hearn says the options below are possible targets for AJ to fight over the summer.

– Dillian Whyte
– Joseph Parker
– Daniel Dubois
– Martin Bakole
– Zhilei Zhang
– Agit Kabayel
– Deontay Wilder

Some of those names wouldn’t seem likely, given that Hearn has said he doesn’t want Joshua to fight anyone “no commercial use.” This largely excludes Bakole, Zhang, Kabayel and Parker.

AJ’s realistic options

The only fighters on the list that Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) made good money from Whyte, Deontay and Dubois. Former WBC heavyweight champion Wilder, 39, looks washed out and has lost four of his last five fights. However, AJ is also considered shot. So a fight between him and Deontay wouldn’t be bad. However, boxing fans would have laughed at Joshua if he accepted the fight with Wilder. Hearn would never hear the end of it.

“He would be ready to fight with Bakole. He is ready to fight anyone. We have to look at the big fights. I don’t want him to fight an uphill battle without commercial benefit. I wouldn’t be doing my job,” said Eddie Hearn Secondsouttalking about Anthony Joshua. “He’s not so focused on money, but I am.

“I would love Bakole in Africa. Dillian Whyte in London. Deontay in America. Winner of Kabayel vs. Zhang. I’m just telling you the names now before someone says they’re possible because I have no idea. Deontay Wilder, Dillian Whyte, Martin Bakole.

“For me, the ones who really lift it are Tyson Fury and the winner of Dubois vs. Parker. That doesn’t mean he won’t get up for other fights. He will fight this summer. It’s simple,” Hearn said.

Bakole Threat

I don’t know why Hearn bothered to mention Martin Bakole’s name because he knows he would never let Joshua near a heavy knockout. After the way Bakole destroyed America’s top heavyweight, Jared Anderson, on August 3rd, Hearn didn’t dare let AJ fight him.

“When Bakole called him the other day, I think it was pretty good for AJ. He was in the dump. Anyone would be a winner if they beat him, and I think that helped him somewhat. He would be ready to fight Bakole. He always did that,” Hearn said.