Anthony Joshua Next Fight: Deontay Wilder, January 2024
Anthony Joshua is one of the biggest heavyweight boxing stars of this generation having held WBO, WBA and IBF Heavyweight titles for more than 4 years. He is one of the boxers who has consistently drawn big PPV numbers.
However, his career is now at crossroads after two back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk. He started his journey back with the aim to become the heavyweight champion once again and defeated Jermaine Franklin in his first fight in 2023, and then knocked out Robert Helenius. But, he needs wins over bigger names now. So, who does Anthony Joshua fight next in the next step of his career?
Anthony Joshua’s Next Fight
Anthony Joshua is expected to face Deontay Wilder in his next fight. There are discussions about a heavyweight superfight card in Saudi Arabia. Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk is in discussion to headline that event while Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder is expected to be the co-main event on that card. However, with Fury fighting in October, Wilder and Joshua might headline a separate card themselves.
Earlier this year, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn laid out a 3-year plan for him in 2023 which would see him get a top 15 ranked boxer in early 2023. Joshua defeated Jermaine Franklin in his first fight of 2023 under this plan. As per Hearn’s statement, after Franklin fight, the feeling among Joshua’s team was that he needed another fight before he is ready for the likes of Tyson Fury or Deontay Wilder.
Fury was supposed to face Dillian Whyte on August, but he failed VADA drug test and the fight was canceled. Matchroom Boxing then brought in Helenius as Joshua’s opponent, who was easily knocked out by Joshua. Even before this fight, the discussions for the Wilder fight started, and we can expect the announcement for the fight to come in the next month.
Wilder is exactly in the same position as Joshua, as he has also lost back-to-back world title fights against Fury before beating Helenius in his comeback fight. Joshua has two wins after back-to-back losses to Usyk.
Date for Anthony Joshua’s Next Fight
Eddie Hearn's full update on plans for Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder in Saudi Arabia following the Robert Helenius KO: "Everything we're hearing is that fight's going ahead in January."
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) August 13, 2023
[🎥 @MatchroomBoxing] pic.twitter.com/gW9XwPopaT
Anthony Joshua’s next fight is expected to take place in January 2024 in Saudi Arabia where he is expected to face Deontay Wilder.
Anthony Joshua Current Record
Anthony Joshua’s current professional boxing record remains at 26 wins and 3 losses. Joshua became the IBF World Heavyweight Champion by beating Charles Martin in 2016. He later added the WBA title to his crown by beating Wladimir Klitschko and later defeated Joseph Parker to add the WBO title to hold 3 heavyweight belts. Other high-profile wins for Joshua include the likes of Kubrat Pulev, Alexander Povetkin, and Carlos Takam among others.
Joshua suffered his first pro-career loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. in June 2019, but he won the unified titles back from Ruiz the same year in December. Since then, Joshua has suffered back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk. Usyk first defeated Joshua in September 2021 to win the unified heavyweight titles and later defeated Joshua once again in August 2022 to retain those titles.
Joshua must fight wilder next no doubt about it or he’ll go backwards not forwards he’s not in the same league as Lennox Lewis but can he really become a 3time champion? The doubters are out there in bundles!