Anthony Joshua's next fight plans have hit a snag. Tyson Fury's sudden retirement announcement on Monday has thrown a wrench in the works for a potential all-British clash between the two heavyweights.
AJ's promoter, Eddie Hearn, says Joshua isn't short of options for his next bout. This comes after Joshua's knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in September, where he picked up some minor injuries.
Fury, known as the "Gypsy King," decided to hang up his gloves following his defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in their rematch last month in Riyadh. He made the announcement in his typical style:
"Hi everybody, I'm going to make this short and sweet. I'd like to announce my retirement from boxing, it has been a blast, I've loved every single minute of it and I'm going to end with this; Dick Turpin wore a mask."
With Fury out of the picture, Joshua's team is looking at other potential opponents. Martin Bakole has thrown his hat in the ring, issuing a strong challenge to AJ. Other names in the mix include Dillian Whyte, Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang, and Agit Kabayel.
Daniel Dubois, fresh off his win against Joshua, was initially in line for a rematch in February. But plans have changed, and "Triple D" is now set to face Joseph Parker in Riyadh on February 22.
Joseph Parker, who fought Joshua back in 2018, could end up as AJ's next opponent if he gets past Dubois. The outcome of the Dubois-Parker fight will likely play a big role in determining Joshua's next move in the ring.
As things stand, Joshua doesn't have a fight lined up. But with so many potential matchups on the table, fans won't have to wait long to see the British star back in action.
