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Anthony Joshua awaits Klitschko decision

Photo: Showtime/ Esther Lin
Fighters Network
11
May

One can imagine Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn being perpetually attached to his cellphone.

Ever since Anthony Joshua’s stunning 11th-round stoppage of Wladimir Klitschko, the demand for a lucrative matchup with the IBF and WBA heavyweight titleholder has been positively overwhelming.

A Klitschko sequel, mandatory challengers, eager contenders – both foreign and domestic – and the list goes on.

“We have a mandatory challenger in Kubrat Pulev for the IBF. We have a situation with Wladimir Klitschko, where we would like to make that fight again,” revealed Hearn in an interview with Sky Sports in the U.K.



“Fans and broadcasters would like to do that fight again and Wladimir is currently on holiday for two weeks and he will make a decision on his return. If that’s a fight that Wladimir wants, I feel like that will be next for Anthony Joshua.”

Joshua (19-0, 19 knockouts) also has a WBA mandatory obligation in the shape of unbeaten Cuban Luis Ortiz but potential opponents are coming out of the ceiling.

“Of course there are other big fights outside of his mandatories,” said Hearn. “The two champions: Joseph Parker we just saw defend his (IBF) world title (and WBC titleholder) Deontay Wilder.

“We have got a six, eight, 10-year plan with Anthony Joshua, so people are talking about all these superfights now. We want them, but we have also got to realize there is a long way to go.”

Taking on all-comers doesn’t seem to be a problem, it’s more the order they will come in.

Hearn said, “We have to box off these mandatories and the aim is to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, to collect all those belts.

“To do it we are going to be very smart. We’re going to have to do a lot of maneuvering around and he is going to have to do a lot of winning in the ring.”

 

 

 

 

Tom Gray is a UK Correspondent/ Editor for RingTV.com and a member of THE RING ratings panel.  Follow him on Twitter: @Tom_Gray_Boxing

 

 

 

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