Anthony Joshua: Ringside Report Plays Match Maker & Offers Up 5 Interesting Fights For You!
By Jeffrey “Italian Medallion” Cellini
Anthony “AJ” Joshua, 17-0, 17 KO’s, has announced that he will defend his IBF World Heavyweight title at the Manchester Arena on Saturday November 26. Joshua won the belt with a brutal second round knockout win over former champion Charles Martin at The O2 in London in April and defended it with a seventh round stoppage win over Dominic Breazeale at his Greenwich fortress in June.
“When I first started my professional career I travelled all round the country fighting, which I loved, this is taking me back to the grass roots,” said Joshua. “I can’t wait to get back up north and show the people of Manchester how much I have improved since the last time I was there. I have been inspired over the summer by the fighters in the Olympics; it has given me a new perspective and huge hunger to get back in ring.
“It has taken a bit of time to officially announce the fight, we want this to be a spectacular show, all the way up the card and it takes time to get these things right.”
No opponent has been announced yet for Joshua’s upcoming title defense, but here are five opponents that may make the championship bout interesting:
5) David “Hayemaker” Haye, 28-2, 26 KO’s is a former cruiserweight and heavyweight world champion. The British fighter has won his last three fights by knockout since his loss to then-champion Wladimir Klitschko back in July of 2011. The fight would be huge in the United Kingdom, but even at the age of 35, Haye would definitely be a risk for the young IBF Heavyweight champion Joshua.
4) David Price, 20-3, 17 KO’s is the British heavyweight contender who claims that he once ‘knocked out’ Anthony Joshua in sparring when the two were amateurs and has recently challenged the IBF heavyweight champion of the world to a fight. Price’s stock has greatly diminished since he has suffered three losses by knockout (by Tony Thompson twice) in his last eight fights. However, this fight would be a big draw in the United Kingdom and AJ would be able to enhance his image with another quick knockout victory.
3) Shannon “The Cannon” Briggs, 60-6-1, 53 KO’s is the former lineal heavyweight champion who held the belt from 1997 to 1998, and the former WBO heavyweight title holder from 2006 to 2007. Briggs has been calling out David Haye and WBC Heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder for possible fights, but AJ should be the one to give the 44-year old warrior one last payday. Another guaranteed victory, but one that may actually test the champion.
2) Luis “King Kong” Ortiz, 25-0, 22 KO’s is the current (interim) WBA World Heavyweight titleholder. The Cuban fighter is probably the most feared contender in the division at the moment, and will undoubtedly be the most avoided fighter as well. “King Kong” has annihilated his last two opponents (Tony Thompson & Bryant Jennings) and at the age of thirty-seven, appears as dangerous as any of the younger contenders.
1) Jarrell “Baby Face” Miller, 18-0-1, 16 KO’s is the newest American heavyweight prospect. The 6-foot-4 contender fought his last bout weighing 296 pounds, and would easily be the ‘biggest’ opponent for Anthony Joshua. Miller is coming off another knockout victory (KO3 Fred Kassi) just this past month, but could be ready for a title shot in a couple of months.
Whoever is Anthony Joshua’s next opponent, it will be neither Tyson Fury nor Wladimir Klitschko, who will be squaring off against each other in October for the WBA, WBO, IBO and Ring Heavyweight championship. Nor will it be against the WBC Heavyweight champion Deontay “Bronze Bomber” Wilder, who will be sidelined for a while due to injuries suffered in his last title defense.
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