Anthony Joshua will make the first defence of his newly acquired IBF heavyweight belt on June 25th, as fans know, against unbeaten Californian Dominic Breazeale. The fight will go out on Sky Sports, almost certainly on Box Office, and promoter Eddie Hearn is currently working on getting a good under-card to support the main event a number of fans think will not last too long. Joshua, a genuine star in the making, blasted Charles Martin inside two disappointing rounds to take the belt he now holds, and some people fear a similar result will be witnessed on June 25th.
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Anthony Joshua boxing news and latest headlines
Haye claims Joshua would beat Tyson Fury now
Heavyweight king Tyson Fury will not care one jot, but David Haye – the man who twice pulled out of a fight with Fury – claims newly crowned IBF heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua would have too much for Fury if they fought “right now.” Speaking with Sky Sports, Haye went as far as to state how he doesn’t think Fury “has a shot in hell” against Joshua.
Tyson Fury lays into Anthony Joshua’s choice for first title challenger
It’s not at all surprising, but heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, upon hearing like the rest of us who newly crowned IBF heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua will be facing in his first title defence, decided to put the boot in. Taking to his oft-used Twitter page shortly after reading how Joshua will defend against Dominic Breazeale on June 25th, Fury started off by saying we should all give Joshua a break, as he is still learning and doesn’t need to face a killer in his maiden defence.
Anthony Joshua vs Dominic Breazeale on June 25
Anthony Joshua MBE will make the first defence of his IBF World Heavyweight title against unbeaten American Dominic ‘Trouble’ Breazeale at The O2 in London on June 25. Joshua ripped took both the belt and unbeaten record of American Charles Martin at the same venue on April 9, and he’ll be looking to take another ‘0’ in his maiden defence.
Breazeale brings a formidable 17-0 record to the UK with 15 wins inside the distance and enters the clash on the back of forcing Amir Mansour to retire after five rounds of their clash in January. The Californian is no stranger to London having represented USA in the 2012 Olympic Games, where Joshua won gold.
Hearn now looking at Johann Duhaupas for Joshua’s first defence
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.
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
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.”