Anthony Joshua is hoping wins against Francis Ngannou and Filip Hrgovic will set up an undisputed world title fight.
Joshua looks to pick up where he left off last year when he fights former UFC champion Ngannou on March 8 in Saudi Arabia. The fight was supposed to be taking place just a few weeks after Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk's undisputed clash, but Fury suffered a cut in training and the fight has been pushed back to May 18.
The winner of Joshua vs Ngannou was promised a shot at the undisputed belts but that won't take place until next year as Fury and Usyk have to fight twice. Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn thinks there is a chance that Joshua could jump the line for a fight against Fury if both Brits win their upcoming fights.
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“The timing worked perfectly for AJ to stop Ngannou and for Fury to win. We appreciate there’s this fight and this rematch, but you know how things are going to go. Come on, you know how His Excellency moves. When the biggest fight in the history of the sport is in front of you to make I'm sure as hell find a way to keep everybody happy and make that fight but it's irrelevant right now," he told iFL TV.
Paris Fury speaks out on pregnancy 'rumours' in loved up NYE post with Tyson"We need that fight to happen and now that fight is happening two months after our fight. So it sounds more likely that if AJ if triumphant will fight Filip Hrgovic for a world title, which is fine and then we’ll fight the winner of Fury vs Usyk. AJ is just like ‘Sign me up to everything, I’m going to beat everyone.’
Fury recently outlined his five-fight wishlist that included potential doubleheader against Joshua and Hearn admitted that he wants 'The Gypsy King' to stay in boxing for as long as possible. "I love to hear this. Boxing would be a worse or weaker place without Tyson Fury, keep him in the sport," Hearn added.
“This is what I told you, he’s got the bit between his teeth. Good, I like seeing Tyson Fury like that. Good luck to him, he says two Usyk fights but I believe there’ll be one. I love it, music to my ears. Guess what, Hrgovic is going to knock Ngannou out and beat Hrgovic if that’s what he’s got to do. Then he’s going to knockout Tyson Fury."