Boxing: Anthony Joshua gets date to know next opponent

Anthony Joshua is likely to fight again in the spring following his unanimous decision win over Andy Ruiz Jr last week.
AJ’s next opponent is to be decided soon, with the IBF and WBO set to meet to agree a ruling by the beginning of next week.

The IBF’s mandatory challenger is Kubrat Pulev, who Joshua was days away from fighting in 2017 before the Bulgarian got injured and was replaced with Carlos Takam.

The WBO have pound-for-pound star Oleksandr Usyk waiting in the wings, following his debut in the heavyweight division in October.

Usyk was the undisputed champion at the cruiserweight level, winning the WBO, IBF, WBA and WBC belts.

And as part of the WBO’s rules, undisputed champions who move up in weight automatically become mandatory challengers for their title in the fighter’s new division.

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has hinted that Pulev is likely to be first in line, however, as he’s been waiting for his shot since beating Hughie Fury over a year ago.

“He comes from a great background of amateur boxing and comes from a boxing family, his brother boxes as well,” Joshua said of Pulev.

“He’s soon to be one of my mandatory challengers.

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“[Usyk’s] from a great school of boxing, the sweet science of boxing, about hitting and not getting hit.

“I study Usyk so know his weaknesses and his strengths. That’s a competition I’m looking forward to.”

The rumoured venue for Joshua’s next fight is Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium.