ANTHONY JOSHUA is eyeing a world title shot after back-to-back wins this year, promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed.
AJ will look to breathe further new life into his career in his crossover clash with former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou next month.
PAAnthony Joshua throws down with former UFC heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou next month[/caption]
A fight against mandatory IBF HW title challenger Filip Hrgovic will likely be next for AJRICHARD PELHAM
ALAMYPromoter Eddie Hearn hopes AJ will fight for a world title after the two bouts[/caption]
Saudi boxing kingpin Turki Alalshikh wants to pit the winner of the Riyadh rumble against the victor of Tyson Fury‘s rescheduled undisputed showdown with Oleksandr Usyk.
The rematch clause in the pair’s contract, however, means a showdown with mandatory IBF heavyweight title challenger Filip Hrgovic will be next for AJ should he see off Ngannou.
But Matchroom boxing chief Hearn believes the Watford warrior will eventually end up standing across the ring from the winner of Fury vs Usyk.
He told iFL TV: “The timing worked perfectly for AJ to stop Ngannou and for Fury to win.
“We appreciate there’s this fight and this rematch, but you know how things are going to go.
“Come on, you know how His Excellency moves.
“When the biggest fight in the history of the sport is in front of you to make I’m sure as hell find a way to keep everybody happy and make that fight but it’s irrelevant right now.
“We need that fight to happen and now that fight is happening two months after our fight.
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“So it sounds more likely that if AJ is triumphant [he] will fight Filip Hrgovic for a world title, which is fine.
“And then we’ll fight the winner of Fury vs Usyk.
“AJ is just like ‘Sign me up to everything, I’m going to beat everyone.”
WBC heavyweight king Fury dispelled rumours of retirement this week by revealing plans to fight at least FOUR MORE TIMES after his dance with Usyk.
The Gypsy King insists he won’t close out his career without back-to-back domestic dust-ups with Joshua, a declaration which was music to the ears of Hearn.
The 44-year-old said: “I love to hear this. Boxing would be a worse or weaker place without Tyson Fury, keep him in the sport.
“This is what I told you, he’s got the bit between his teeth. Good, I like seeing Tyson Fury like that.
“Good luck to him, he says two Usyk fights but I believe there’ll be one. I love it, music to my ears.
“Guess what, Hrgovic is going to knock Ngannou out and beat Hrgovic if that’s what he’s got to do.
“Then he’s going to knockout Tyson Fury.”