Anthony Joshua should get another title shot against IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois by beating one of the tougher contenders, like Martin Bakole or Tyson Fury, if he comes out of retirement.
No more Free Passes
Fighter Dillian Whyte and former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder are two names that have been mentioned as strong possibilities for Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) to fight next if ‘The Gypsy King’ Fury does not come out of retirement. by Turki Al-Sheikh.
The idea is that Joshua will use Whyte, 36, or Wilder to rebuild his confidence and reputation in the boxing world before facing Dubois in a rematch this year. However, those two fighters are no longer important in the division today and haven’t been for many years.
What Joshua needs is to beat one of these heavyweights to get the title the way the regulars fight:
– Martin Bakole
– Agit Kabayel
– Zhilei Zhang
– Joseph Parker
– Moses Itauma
AJ’s credibility is gone after his fifth round loss to Dubois last year on September 21st in London, and he needs to prove himself as a guy who deserves a world title shot. It’s done like that for regular players, it’s not fair that Joshua won’t be given the chance to fight for the world title after defeating Wilder or Whyte who washed them.
Meritocracy Over Star Power
“Where Anthony Joshua is at the moment, put him with Dillian Whyte and Deontay Wilder in the next six. If he wins those two fights, give him a fight [IBF heavyweight champion] Daniel Dubois if he wants a rematch or Tyson Fury,” said Gareth A. Davies speaking to Sport Boxing about Anthony Joshua.
“Tyson Fury makes sense if he fights again, but definitely Daniel Dubois. He’s the one holding the belt right now, and he’s going this way [upwards]and Joshua is coming this way [downhill],” said Adam Catterall. “He [AJ] he must win to earn the right to fight.
“There should be people who are respected for it. His profile should go out the window for a moment. Joshua has to win a tough fight to get back on track. I personally would like to see a Fury fight, and if it’s not Fury, I’d like to push him against Martin Bakole. Why not? Bakole is a great opponent, isn’t he?”
The way boxing is now, fighters who are becoming stars, like Joshua, don’t need to get a title shot. They are given without the need to work up to this position because it is about business.
If you hold the heavyweight belt, you’re going to fight Joshua because it means a big payday, but it makes boxing seem like a prestige contest rather than a real sport. It wouldn’t be a real sport if the famous fighters didn’t have to get a title shot like the regular fighters.
“Bakole is the big favorite there right now, he’s the big favorite,” said Gareth about how Bakole will be picked to beat 35-year-old Joshua.
AJ will be food for Bakole right now if that fight happens, but at least if he takes that fight, he will be showing that he believes in trying for the title. Again, it would look bad if Joshua was given a rematch with Dubois after beating the 39-year-old Wilder or Whyte.
“Maybe there is, but we are talking about the best guys. Let’s go,” said Catterall.
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