Saturday 23 January 2016 22:13, UK
Anthony Joshua and David Haye's clash is 'inevitable', according to Eddie Hearn - but who do The Panel think would prevail?
Joshua (15-0-KO15) added the British heavyweight title to his Commonwealth crown with a thrilling seventh-round stoppage of bitter rival Dillian Whyte in December and remains on the rise.
Heading to a potential crossroads from the opposite direction is Haye (27-2-KO25), who ended over three years of inactivity by halting Mark de Mori inside a round on January 16.
So what will happen if and when the two Londoners get in the ring in the next six months? Let's hear from The Panel...
It's a hard one. I just think Haye would have too much experience for Joshua right now. It'd be a perfect fight for Joshua in about 18 months but right now, I think Haye knows too much and is too much of a livewire. David wants to take the fight now before Joshua knows what he's doing. Haye wants it this year - and he's not stupid.
Right now, I'd back Haye and I think he'd go for the knockout, but you get Joshua with two or three more fights under his belt, then it's a different kettle of fish.
It would be a really dangerous fight for Joshua because Haye is a top-class operator. He's a world champion in two different weight divisions and you couldn't think of many more dangerous matches than this for Joshua. I think David is boxing for the money now, though. He's come back at 35 for financial reasons alone, I think. That might give Joshua the edge.
It's a big ask for Joshua but I think the fact he's on the way up and his dreams are ahead of him would give Joshua a slight edge. Haye is a top-class fighter though, and I wouldn't match Joshua with him.
I don't think Joshua knows enough yet and Haye has been through the whole cruiserweight division, learned his stuff and then gone in with big men in the heavyweights. With somebody young and inexperienced, Haye's knowledge would be too much for him at this stage. Joshua will be a superstar and reign for a long time but timing is everything and it'd be foolish to put Joshua in with Haye now.
I think my money would be on David Haye. I definitely don't think Joshua should be put in with Haye now. Maybe in a year's time.
I'm a north London guy so I have to go with Anthony Joshua. His jab alone would take Haye out of the equation. There's no point. In Haye's fight with Klitschko, Klitschko jabbed him twice and Haye went into his shell. Anthony's jab is serious. He'll jab him and Haye will fold.
My money's on AJ. I'd go with an Anthony Joshua stoppage in round three.
I think it'd be a great fight for us to watch but I think that if it happens in the next six months, then you'd have to favour David Haye. We know he's a top-class operator and to have the timing he showed on his comeback after over three years out was very impressive. He might know too much for Joshua at this stage, as the younger fighter is still learning.
If it happens in the next six months, I'd favour David Haye. In a year's time or more, then Joshua will have improved again and you'd lean towards him.
I think it can happen if Eddie Hearn wants it to. I think either can win if they land first. I think Joshua is a bit of a novice and struggled with Dillian Whyte. If Haye catches him early, it's goodnight. It's curtains. But why should Joshua give Haye a chance? Haye has had one fight and three years, and now wants a fight with a prospect.
Whoever lands that big shot first would win. Heavyweight boxing is a unique sport - one punch and it's all over!
We have David Haye, who has recently returned from a career-threatening injury and we have the tremendous Olympic specimen that is Anthony Joshua. I forecast that if Haye returns to his old self, then the trio of Fury, Joshua and Haye could provide plenty of thrills and spills for UK heavyweight fans.
Anthony is not the finished article by a long stretch, but in terms of potential, he's very exciting. Especially when you consider he first began boxing the year I defeated Robin Reid in 2007. I've pegged Mr Haye behind Mr Joshua for now due to recent activity.
