Thursday 29 April 2021 10:27, UK
Anthony Joshua has a string of options for his next fight after dramatically beating Wladimir Klitschko. Johnny Nelson ponders the contenders...
Is a rematch against Klitschko the likeliest next fight for Joshua?
Business-wise, you might think Klitschko would want to do it because he'll be kicking himself. For two or three rounds when AJ was catching his wind, Klitschko should have jumped on him but he didn't have the gears. The problem is now; Anthony knows what Klitschko is capable of doing.
At times Joshua was out-boxed and hesitant but when he was sure of himself, he let go. He would have learned so much from that fight. A lot of questions were answered, a lot of doubts were ticked off.
The rematch is the likeliest outcome. Why should they go anywhere else? Saturday night proved it.
The rematch is the likeliest outcome. Why should they go anywhere else? Saturday night proved it.
But Kubrat Pulev is the mandatory challenger to Joshua's IBF championship...
I'm sure something could be arranged [to delay fighting him]. It's about business now. The biggest draw is Joshua, so does this make him bigger than the belts? Is he the kind of guy to say 'I don't need the belts, I'll just take the big fights'. I don't think he is.
All roads lead to Joshua, everyone wants to fight him. Looking what Joshua did to Klitschko, and what Klitschko did to Pulev - I think Joshua beats Pulev.
What about Luis Ortiz, the mandatory challenger to Joshua's new WBA 'super' title?
When they first talked about Ortiz I thought: 'wow, this guy is dangerous'. After seeing him in Monte Carlo [beating Malik Scott], he isn't as dangerous as I thought. He's at the bottom of the pile. They don't need him.
He's at the bottom of the pile. They don't need him.
Joshua could go to America to unify world titles against Deontay Wilder...
Joshua-Wilder doesn't have to be in America, unless AJ wants it to be. The Americans want to come here because Joshua is big news and big business. We saw HBO and Showtime come over here with massive crews.
It sells. Wembley or The O2 sell. All eyes were on Wembley on Saturday - common sense tells you 'come here'.
He [Wilder] had goosebumps (watching Joshua vs Klitschko). Lennox Lewis himself said that Deontay should have represented himself more, he should have shouted more. Was he trying to be too cool?
All eyes were on Wembley on Saturday - common sense tells you 'come here'.
Or was he thinking: 'I've got to get in with that beast?' Deontay, like everybody else, thought 'oh my goodness'.
If Joseph Parker defends his WBO belt this weekend, could he be next for Joshua?
I think it will be Parker next. He's got a title, Joshua could unify the titles. Out of the bunch, he's the one where you think 'we can win another belt'.
Out of the bunch, he's the one where you think 'we can win another belt'.
Joshua could unify the belts - how long has it been since we had a champion who did that?
Joseph Parker vs Razvan Cojanu is live on Sky Sports at 11am on Saturday morning.
