ON Saturday (October 28) filling a stadium with over 76,000 to watch him box a relatively unknown opponent, Anthony Joshua proved his star power. But he is hardly running out opponents. There are huge super-fights out there for him that would be the major events in the sport. 2018 is going to be big, whatever he chooses to do.
Fury has been out of the ring for the whole of 2016, out of action due to the ongoing saga of his hearing for a failed drug test. But he was the unified champion last time he fought and now Joshua has overtaken him. Fury however has not lost in the ring, is a huge personality and this would be a massive event in the UK and globally.
The American is the best active heavyweight in the world after Joshua. He is the WBC heavyweight champion, is a loud, brash personality and is building his profile in the USA. This would be the major unification fight in world boxing.
- David Haye
Haye remains a superstar in the UK and is one of the most well known British boxers in the sport. Joshua is far bigger, younger, fresher, while Haye is having to recover to a very serious injury to his Achilles tendon. He has not the inconsiderable matter of having to face Tony Bellew on December 17, a real fight that Haye might struggle to get through.
- Joseph Parker
Parker, the WBO heavyweight champion, has boxed and beaten both Carlos Takam and Hughie Fury. The New Zealander is not a major name in boxing but Anthony Joshua winning a third heavyweight world title would be major against anyone.
- Oleksandr Usyk
Leftfield this one but if Usyk comes through the World Boxing Super Series he would win all four cruiserweight world titles. The natural next step would be a move up to heavyweight. Usyk wouldn’t be the biggest but he’d make up for his size with his superb skillset.
