Eddie Hearn says that there is a pool of “10 fighters”, which is considering choosing as the next opponent of Anthony Joshua. From this group he mentioned Martin Bakole, Efe Jagba and Tony Yok as three possibilities.
Bakole, a risky choice of return
Promoter Matchroom, Hearn, said that he is not sure if Bakole (21-2, 16 KO) is the right option for the former two-time heavyweight champion Joshua (28-4, 25 KO), taking into account that Joshua comes from a 15-month release. It would be a hard fight for AJ, even if he hadn’t disappeared.
What complicates Hearna’s work is a bad knockout AJ, who suffered during the last fight with Daniel Dubois on September 21, 2024. Dubois eliminated Joshua in the fifth round. He dropped AJ four times in battle, ending when he was counted in round 5.
Jake Paul Fight still on the radar
Hearn states that he is still interested in the fight of Jake Paul for Joshua at the beginning of 2026, but he is not sure if the popular warrior will pass through November 14 the match against Gervont Davis without injury. He does not intend to sit Joshua and wait for the result of this fight.
Hearn said IFL TV That there is a “pula and don’t know 10 fighters” that Anthony Joshua could fight next. “Bakole? Yes. It is not an effortless fight. You also have ajagba.”
33 -year -old Bakole has not looked good in the last two fights with Efe Ajbaga and Joseph Parker. Choosing him at this moment would be a situation for Joshua, because he would not receive recognition for defeating him. If AJ loses or fights for winning, he will be criticized by fans.
Tony Yoka brings size and range
Tony Yoka (14-3, 11 KO) would also be a hard fight, potentially for Joshua, and for which he would not receive recognition. The Olympic gold medalist in 2016 Yoka has a 3-3 record in the last six fights, and his only wins came against unclear warriors.
High opponents disturbed Joshua
After 6’7 ′ Yoka has a size to potentially defeat Joshua if his impact resistance has not been impaired from the loss in Dubois. AJ 6’6 ″ would not have the height and achieve an advantage over Yoka, as if he enjoyed most of his career against less opposition. High warriors with whom Joshua fought, 6’6 ″ Wladimir Klitschko and 6’5 ″ Dubois, gave him problems.
“You must ask yourself [Joshua] Is it outside the ring for 15 months, is it the right fight to come back? Maybe – Hearn said about Bakole as an option for Joshua.
The way Hearn says does not seem willing to fight the bacon. You can’t blame him. Although Bakole had weight problems in the last two fights, he is still powerful and would be a threat to Joshua as long as it lasts.
Olly Campbell covers boxing since 2010 and wrote for Boxing News 24 From 2014. In Great Britain, he now informs about the world boxing scene, providing news, results and functions connecting fans with the greatest stories of this sport.
Having experience in the field of relationships with Great Britain and European, Olly has developed a style that combines a acute analysis with available writing, thanks to which his work is valuable for both devoted observers and random fans. His reports consistently emphasize masters, pretenders and appearing prospects on the global stage.
Terence Crawford believes one man will follow in his footsteps and retire as an unbeaten world champion, essentially becoming a generational great in the process.
‘Bud’ became not only a world champion but a three-division undisputed king, ending his career with a legacy-defining unanimous decision triumph over Canelo Alvarez.
Even before that, Crawford was considered an elite pound-for-pound operator for over a decade, with many believing his most complete performance came against Errol Spence Jr in 2023.
But while the American is perhaps in a class of his own, he nonetheless believes that four-division world champion Shakur Stevenson can achieve a similar degree of success.
The 29-year-old claimed a career-best victory in January, losing just one round as he dethroned Teofimo Lopez with a masterful unanimous decision victory.
Having now signed with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing, though, it remains to be seen whether he defends his WBO super-lightweight title or pursues opportunities elsewhere.
Either way, Crawford has told Fight Hub TV that Stevenson has the mental and physical attributes to remain unbeaten at the highest level.
“I think Shakur [will take over]for sure, Shakur hands down. I think, given the opportunity, he’s going to show the world that he’s the best. His mental, his defense [sets him apart]takes his craft serious. He’s the type of the fighter that you gotta pull out the gym. [Is he beatable?] Not at all. Everybody [is] beatable, but I don’t see nobody beating him.”
Since inking a promotional deal with Zuffa, Stevenson has named Devin Haney and Gervonta Davis as two potential opponents who would cement his greatness.
The slick southpaw could therefore compete anywhere between lightweight and 147lbs, depending on which division offers the most realistic opportunities.
Oleksandr Usyk has shared his reaction to Anthony Joshua‘s dramatic knockout victory against Kristian Prenga.
Usyk nearly suffered his own shock defeat in May when he was pushed to the limit by kickboxing star Rico Verhoevenand two months on it was nrw teammate Joshua’s turn to come close to a massive upset loss that would have stunned the heavyweight division.
The Brit was dropped twice by massive underdog Prenga in the opening round of their clash in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, but ‘AJ’ managed to recover and record a big knockdown of his own in the second round that resulted in the stoppage victory.
Joshua and Usyk now train together, having famously had two battles for the unified world heavyweight title in 2021 and 2022, and the Ukrainian has had his say on his stablemate’s victory over Prenga.
Speaking to TalkSporttwo-time undisputed champion Usyk praised Joshua, insisting ‘AJ is back’ before predicting that Joshua will now claim a knockout win over long-term rival Tyson Fury in his next bout.
“Anthony Joshua is next undisputed champion. First round it’s a test but AJ is back.
It’s boxing, [the] big upper cut is good, it’s a knockdown. AJ [come] back and win.
“Greedy Belly [Fury] will speak now and say weak chin, Greedy Belly get out. AJ wins [against Fury], [he will] knock him out.”
Fury was victorious on Friday as he earned a seventh round retirement win against Mariusz Wach in Thailand, paving the way for the showdown against Joshua later this year.
Jake Paul was the last man to fight Anthony Joshua and he has now revealed his verdict on AJ’s chaotic victory over Kristian Prenga.
Joshua went up against Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturdayin a clash that was expected to be a comfortable win for the former world heavyweight champion in order to set up the long overdue battle against Tyson Fury.
Any hopes of seeing that clash were nearly ended after AJ was dropped twice in the opening round of the bout, though he was able to recover and claim the second round knockout to come out on top and prevent a stunning shock upset from taking place.
Saturday’s outing saw Joshua back in the ring for the first time since his sixth round triumph over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul back in Decemberand now ‘The Problem Child’ himself has shared his reaction to his former rival’s victory over Prenga.
Posting on social mediaPaul praised AJ for earning the win, after returning to action following the tragic car crash he was involved in at the end of last year which took the lives of his two close friends.
“Happy for Joshua with that win after all he’s been through. Remembering Sina and Latz with this one.”
Happy for Joshua with that win after all he’s been through.
Remembering Sina and Latz with this one.
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) July 25, 2026
The win for Joshua should now tee up for meeting with Fury later this year, after ‘The Gypsy King’ held up his end of the bargain by also securing a win in his warm-up bout on Friday, securing a seventh round retirement win against Mariusz Wach.
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