Anthony Joshua Called Out By Heavyweight Following Knockout Victory

Poster boy of British boxing Anthony Joshua is aiming to become boxing’s fifth three-time heavyweight champion when he takes on newly-crowned IBF title-holder Daniel Dubois next month. However, it seems as though one man is already eyeing up ‘AJ’, whether that be for a first defence of the belt or a potential comeback outing following a possible defeat to Dubois.

As is the norm following an undisputed bout in any division, the heavyweight scene is expected to be blown wide open in the coming months, as Oleksandr Usyk’s titles become fragmented. Already, Daniel Dubois has seen the benefit of an undisputed coronation, being upgraded from interim champion to full IBF champion shortly after Usyk’s famous victory over Fury, but that reign could soon be cut short by Joshua.

Elsewhere in the division, contenders are battling it out for a higher ranking with the sanctioning bodies, hoping to find themselves well positioned for a shot at either Usyk or a vacant title during the aftermath of the Ukrainian’s rematch with Fury this December.

Recently, we have witnessed the surprising resurgence of Joseph Parker and the unlikely rises of both Agit Kabayel and Martin Bakole take place, but now there is a new threat hoping to emulate their surges up the rankings and a recent knockout win could see those hopes come true in the near future.

In an interview with Boxing Social, Italian heavyweight Guido Vianello called for a showdown with Anthony Joshua but admitted that he would be willing to face anybody that sits above him in the rankings.

[I want] Anthony Joshua [next], why not? Anthony Joshua in Italy. We have very good heavyweights so there are a lot of good names, so let’s see who gives me the chance. It’s just about having the possibility to fight with the top names. Now, I am taking a good ranking, so I want someone better than me. Let’s see who wants to fight with me, I am ready.”

In terms of who the victor of Joshua-Dubois will face next, Turki Al-Alshikh has maintained his desire to stage Joshua versus Fury, regardless of whether ‘The Gypsy King’ can avenge his defeat to Usyk – for what could prove to be a second undisputed title bout in as many years.

Yet, there could be another outing in the interim for whomever the IBF champion may be and Kabayel would likely be the front runner, in what would perceived as a relatively low-risk affair – although both Makhmudov and Frank Sanchez have made that same mistake of overlooking the undefeated German in the past.