Former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua 25-3 (22) could face Dillian Whyte 29-3 (19) in a rematch before targeting a shot at WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury 33-0-1 (24) or former world champion Deontay Wilder 43-2-1 (42).
The 33-year-old Joshua got back in the win column on the first of April with a wide but lacklustre 12-round unanimous decision win over Jermaine Franklin 21-2 (14). It was his first bout under new trainer Derrick James.
His promoter Eddie Hearn has argued against rushing him back to the top too quickly.
“I think Dillian Whyte is a great option,” the Matchroom Boxing boss said on The DAZN Boxing Show. “It’s a dangerous fight. I think that’s a good fight. There’s other guys in the top 15.
“You’re better off being honest and saying, ‘Look, this is where we’re at’. I need him to have another fight with a level slightly above Jermaine Franklin, gel with Derrick James, hopefully go in there with a little more confidence to prepare him for Fury or Wilder.”
Hearn said that Fury’s American co-promoter Bob Arum had recently reached out to him to feel him out about a potential bout with the WBC champion. The two camps had a deal in place that was practically signed, sealed and delivered a few years back before an independent arbiter ruled that Fury was contractually obliged to face Wilder for a third time.
“We’re not ruling that out,” Hearn said. “If a big offer comes in or a big site comes in [we will take the fight right away] – unlikely in July.
“But I just really want to see momentum [from Joshua]. People have got to understand when you talk about desire, this guy’s got so much desire still, literally after the fight all he’s been doing is analysing his performance, talking to people, watching.
“Part of him enjoyed Saturday night because he got back to his winning ways. He hasn’t won in nearly three years. You can hype it up as much as you want. ‘I’ll tell the media my career is over if I lose.’ He knew deep down his career was over if he lost that fight, so sorry for not taking too many chances in that fight.”
