As fans have most probably read, new IBF heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua’s first title defence has been officially announced for expected venue The O2 in London, on June 25th (two weeks before world heavyweight champ Tyson Fury meets Wladimir Klitschko in their big rematch). Another big sell-out is anticipated, even though fans who are buying tickets do not yet know who the 16-0(16) Joshua’s challenger will be.
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Anthony Joshua boxing news and latest headlines
Joshua breaks down his three likely candidates: Stiverne, Molina, Breazeale
As has been reported previously, newly crowned IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is likely to face one of the following three opponents in his first title defence set for June 25th: Bermane Stiverne, Eric Molina or Dominic Breazeale. All three US heavyweights have strengths and weaknesses, and either fighter would make a good first title challenger for the 16-0(16) champ who has yet to be taken beyond the 7th-round.
Joshua’s first title challenger down to three likely names; Hearn says A.J wants “a real fight”
Newly crowned IBF heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua is already back in training after his explosive yet easy 2nd-round stoppage of Charles Martin. A.J doesn’t quite know who he will be fighting in his first defence as champion, but he is taking no shortcuts in training as he gets ready for his maiden defence. And his promoter Eddie Hearn, in speaking with Sky Sports today, said the short-list now consists of three likely names – all of them American fighters.
“The IBF put out there new rankings today and we have to box someone in the top-15 of those rankings,” the Matchroom boss said. “We expect from those rankings the likes of Bermane Stiverne, Eric Molina, Dominic Breazeale. There has been big interest from US broadcasters. I think a US opponent makes sense. These are real guys and he wants a real fight.”
Tyson Fury/Anthony Joshua won’t be fighting on the same night, Joshua sees sense and looks at other dates for first title defence
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0EBIc9afVE
In the words of one boxing pundit, it would have been “promotional suicide” for rival British heavyweight stars to have fought on the same night. Yet for a time, it looked as though the world heavyweight king and the newly crowned IBF heavyweight champ would indeed go head-to-head on rival shows on July 9th. But today, in speaking with BBC Sport, Joshua said it is “most unlikely” he will now box on July 9th.
Anthony Joshua likely to make first IBF title defence against a US fighter in bid to crack pay-per-view market: four names in the mix
Anthony Joshua, and his promoter Eddie Hearn, want to crack the US market and become a genuine pay-per-view attraction. Hearn, in speaking with Boxing News, said he fully understands how it takes time to become a big name in America; the kind of name fans will readily part with cash to see fight. And as such, Hearn is likely to match the new IBF heavyweight champ against an American name in his first defence.
There are huge domestic fights out there for Joshua, with Tyson Fury and David Haye waiting in the wings, but it looks as though they will have to wait a while. Hearn, in speaking with the trade paper, said he has a few names lined up when it comes to who Joshua may fight in his maiden defence, penciled in for July 9th. It’s probable Joshua will defend in the UK, but the names Hearn mentioned are: Malik Scott, Bryant Jennings, Bermane Stiverne and Eric Molina.
Former Anthony Joshua foe Dillian Whyte launches scathing attack on Charles Martin: He was c**p!
While new IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is still enjoying the plaudit’s his 2nd-round stoppage win over Charles Martin earned him on Saturday night, A.J’s critics remain. We’ve all read what heavyweight ruler Tyson Fury had to say about Joshua, both before and after his IBF title win; and former Joshua foe Dillian Whyte was also less than impressed by Joshua’s quick win.
Or, more accurately, Whyte was hugely unimpressed by the performance Martin gave inside a sold-out O2 Arena three days ago. Whyte, who craves a rematch with Joshua – having pushed the unbeaten star hard back in December – told Sky Sports he thought defending champion Martin was c**p and that he “sold his belt to Joshua.”
Anthony Joshua: I want to maintain this for a decade
While newly crowned IBF champ Anthony Joshua says it’s “cool” to have won his first world title, the unbeaten heavyweight star – already a household name in the UK and closing in on international stardom – insists there is far, far more to come. In fact, the 26-year-old (young for a heavyweight, especially these days) says he wants to fight at the highest level for a further decade; until he turns 35.
Speaking with The Telegraph, A.J said he thinks he will be capable of unifying the heavyweight crown “by the end of 2017.”
David Haye explains how he’ll defeat Anthony Joshua
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWx0QU67Ag0
Performing pundit duties for Sky Sports last night for the Anthony Joshua-Charles Martin title fight, David Haye insisted he has what it takes to defeat new IBF ruler Joshua. Haye spoke about how he first has to take care of business against Arnold Gjergjaj on May 21st – “I’ll knock him out,” Haye said – and how he will then fight Shannon Briggs; who Haye is also confident of knocking out later this year.
Joshua – Martin: Round by round and a half recap
That is how long the title fight lasted – a round and a half. Anthony Joshua (16-0) had not even warmed up before the mockery of a heavyweight champion in front of him fell apart. Charles Martin (23-1-1) is a remarkable exception in the sport where sometimes boxers pose as champions and play their part until the bluff is inevitably called. In this case there was a champion posing a boxer and his bluff was blown to pieces in no time. This was Martin’s 25th fight and his first loss, so there are 24 or so heavyweight boxers out there who are even worse.
New IBF champ Joshua: Foreman, Ali, Frazier fought; Me, Fury and Haye have to fight
Newly crowned IBF heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua insists he will not get carried away with winning his first world title and that bigger and better fights are very much still to come. Joshua crushed the big talking non-delivering “Prince” Charles Martin inside two stunningly easy rounds last night and in light of A.J’s easy win, the jury is still out on how good, or great, the 26-year-old can become.