Connect with us

Boxing

Eddie Hearna’s risky plan to resurrect Anthony Joshu’s career against a perilous opponent

Published

on

Image: Eddie Hearn's Risky Plan to Resurrect Anthony Joshua's Career Against a Dangerous Tune-up Opponent

Eddie Hearn says that they must choose the opponent of Anthony Joshua “carefully” at the beginning of 2026 to prepare him for a great fight in the summer against a man whom he hopes that there will be Tyson Fury.

Risk weighing

Hearn wants to avoid Joshua (28-4, 25 KO), who suffers from nervous failure and ruining his plans for one of the popular heavyweight. The four names mentioned by Hearn in his fight for a sultry -up are risky for him because he left the ring for 16-17 months after the elbow surgery and knockout defeat with Daniel Dubois on September 21, 2024.

Four Joshua candidates

  • Tony Yoka
  • EFE JAGBA
  • Frank Sanchez
  • Jared Anderson

These are still risky fights for Joshua, who is 36 years senior next month. Ajagba (20-1-1, 14 KO) would be a potential nightmare because of its power and size 6’6 ″. On the right side of the cannon was ruined by Hearna’s plans regarding AJ.

Olympic gold medalist 2016 Tony Yoka (14-3, 11 KO) is also not simple. It can hit and its size 6’7 ″ makes him a threat to Joshua. Although Yoka has lost several times in the last three years, these were competitive fights in which many difficult shots landed.

“We must carefully choose the next fight and I think that the best way to do it is to be sincere and saying that the next fight will be the fight for the construction of the ankle next summer,” said Eddie Hearn Sky sports boxing. “We want it to be against Tyson Fury. If this is not the case, it will be a huge fight.”

Safe and sound path options

At the bottom of the best 15 is a lighter difficult impact, which Joshua could fight, which would give him a better chance of winning. Considering that he takes a long break and a bad loss from Dubois, choosing one of these fighters, I think, would be a safer choice for AJ:

  1. Johnny Fisher
  2. Joseph Goodall
  3. Michael Hunter
  4. Mahmoud car

“We need a guy from the best 15 [next]. We need someone so that AJ can return to a competitive fight after he came out for what will be for over a year and prepare for what will be the last bone roller, “said Hearn.

History Reconstruction

In the case of four fights of Joshua in 2023 and 2024, Hearn chose four lower level fighters with which he did well. Although technically Otto Wallin and Jermaine Franklin were pretenders, they did not pose a threat to him. These types of heavyweight would be perfect for AJ to fight at the beginning of 2026 to keep him in the summer hit.

“Beating his career at this stage would be catastrophic for these plans. So we have to do it,” said Hearn.

Another loss with a knockout would put Joshua in a situation where he would have to decide whether it is worth continuing his career. Thanks to his power, speed, size and pedigree, he could quickly rebuild if he could remain busy enough to push three or four fights in a year and a half. This is unlikely, considering his age and a growing tendency to fight once a year.

“Joshua is at a crossroads, but he has a heart to come back. Look at Holyfield at the age of 34, losing to the knockout to regain size. AJ 36, it has not yet been done, but the next fight will tell us a lot,” said writer Tom Gray from Sporting News, telling about the next fight of Joshua at the beginning of 2026.

Last updated 09/02/2025

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Boxing

Trainer Robert Garcia Predicts Devin Haney vs. Shakur Stevenson Fight: ‘With a Very Slim Edge’

Published

on

Regis Prograis predicts Devin Haney vs Shakur Stevenson after facing Haney: “He’s more skilled”

Esteemed coach Robert Garcia provided his expert opinion on a potential clash between Shakur Stevenson and Devin Haney, who have verbally agreed to meet at the 144-pound catchweight division.

There are rumors that both American stars will be joining Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing, apparently with the intention of clashing under the promotional banner.

While nothing has been confirmed, the pair regularly exchange information on social media, and Haney has verbally agreed to drop 3 pounds below his preferred fighting weight.

“The Dream” won the WBO welterweight title in November, becoming a three-division world champion dethroning and unanimously overtaking Brian Norman Jr.

Earlier this week, however, the WBO confirmed that Haney would be stripped of his belt if he fought Stevenson at the 144-pound catchweight division, as the 27-year-old had been ordered to face mandatory challenger Keyshawn Davis.

However, if they do end up facing off at 144 pounds, top trainer Garcia said Fighting Hub TV that he will favor the WBO super-lightweight champion the least.

“Honestly, I think it’s a great fight for both of them. They both fight very astute – they don’t handle each other [many] mistakes.

“The first one to make a mistake, the second one will take advantage of it. It’s a tough fight. With a very miniature difference, I probably think Shakur [would win]. He’s too astute.

“What I like about Haney is that he’s willing to take a risk. He’d be willing to take that risk and I think Shakur benefits from that [of his mistake]”

Stevenson became a four-division world champion when he dethroned Teofimo Lopez in January with a unanimous majority victory in his first appearance at 140 pounds.

That’s why the 28-year-old is reluctant to face Haney at 147 pounds, where his opponent would have a significant size advantage.

Continue Reading

Boxing

Robert Garcia wants another fight for Jesse Rodriguez before his fight with Naoya Inoue

Published

on

Image: Robert Garcia Wants Another Fight For Jesse Rodriguez Before Naoya Inoue Showdown

“The ideal idea would be to have another fight,” Garcia said, discussing Rodriguez’s future. “Now he’s felt it for the first time. Plus, Vargas is a little taller, clumsy, and has difficulty with speed. Medina is very sturdy, so it would be a great test.”

Garcia’s comments came after Rodriguez’s bantamweight debut. The veteran trainer explained that his fighter had gained valuable experience against a naturally larger opponent and could benefit from another fight before potentially moving up to the 122-pound weight class.

“Three pounds may not seem like a lot to someone who just runs, but in boxing it makes a substantial difference,” Garcia said. “So for me the perfect idea would be to organize another fight.”

These comments contradict Hearn’s assessment of the situation.

“If we don’t do this soon, we will probably miss the boat,” he added. Hearn said, referring to a possible Rodriguez-Inoue clash.

Inoue, who turned 33 in April, remains one of boxing’s biggest attractions and one of the top fighters in the sport. The Japanese star currently competes at super bantamweight, which is four pounds heavier than his modern home of Rodriguez, who weighs in at 118 pounds.

Rodriguez himself seemed ready for whatever direction his team chose.

“Whatever my team says,” Bam Rodriguez said. “Whatever they throw in front of me, I’ll say yes.”

The fight between Rodriguez and Inoue has long been viewed as one of the most exhilarating future fights in the sport. However, Garcia’s comments suggest that Team Rodriguez may be considering whether an extra season at bantamweight could improve Bam’s chances of fighting the biggest fight of his career

Youtube video

Continue Reading

Boxing

Mike Tyson tells Oleksandr Usyk to face one fighter next: ‘We’re waiting for you’

Published

on

Mike Tyson tells Oleksandr Usyk to face one man next: “We’re waiting for you”

Mike Tyson urged Oleksandr Usyk to face one of his closest rivals instead of an immediate rematch with Rico Verhoeven.

The Ukrainian is clearly considering his options after his last outing, which ended with: a somewhat controversial 11th round victory over Verhoeven.

Surprisingly, Usyk found himself in a competitive battle with the former kickboxer, whose only previous professional boxing match allowed him to stop the journeyman in the second round of their 2014 meeting.

As such, Verhoeven was considered the clear underdog, but he nonetheless put in a commendable performance last month, staying in contention with the heavyweight champion for 10 completed rounds.

Then the Dutchman suffered a knockdown, and referee Mark Lyson waved him off, and his intervention took place after the signal.

Despite both pairs calling for an immediate rematch, Usyk was ordered to defend his WBC title against mandatory challenger Agit Kabayel.

As the WBC “interim” champion, Kabayel has been waiting for his chance to win the full title since stopping Zhilei Zhang with a sixth-round body attack in February 2025.

And although the 33-year-old has shown considerable patience during this time, he is clearly feeling increasingly frustrated with the situation, so much so that he posted social media clip “Iron Mike” demanding that Usyk defend the WBC, IBF and WBA titles against him.

“Usyk, we’re waiting for you, brother. We need you, Usyk. We need this money, baby. Come get it.”

Usyk must now decide whether to face Kabayel, who has established himself as the most deserving contender, or to relinquish the WBC belt and pursue a rematch with Verhoeven.

Alternatively, he can simply hang up the gloves and, at the age of 39, embark on a brilliant career.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

OUR NEWSLETTER

Subscribe Us To Receive Our Latest News Directly In Your Inbox!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Trending