Anthony Joshua, the former two-time world champion, is weighing his options for a comeback after a recent setback in the ring.
Joshua lost his IBF heavyweight belt to Daniel Dubois in September. Dubois stopped Joshua in five rounds, adding to his impressive run that includes knockout wins over Jarrell Miller and Fillip Hrgovic.
After the fight, Joshua didn't jump at an immediate rematch. He took some time to regroup. Meanwhile, Tyson Fury lost to Oleksandr Usyk for the second time. Fans expected a potential Joshua-Fury clash, but Fury announced his retirement in early January. Dubois, on the other hand, is gunning for a rematch with Usyk.
Now, a new opportunity has come up for Joshua. The WBC interim belt, currently held by Agit Kabayel, is up for grabs. Kabayel has been on a tear, scoring five knockouts in his last five fights. He recently knocked out Zhilei Zhang in February and has notable wins over Arslanbek Makhmudov and Frank Sanchez.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman shared his thoughts on the situation:
"[Kabayel] has the WBC interim championship that [he] can defend. There's other big fights like Joshua, Wilder or eventually even Fury. So many other possible great fights. [Joshua,] he's highly ranked in the WBC, he's a legendary champion and we will support him of course. We are absolutely in support of just making sure that the best fights can happen."
Joshua is still highly ranked in the WBC, and the organization is keen to see him back in action. While Fury is currently retired, there's always a chance he might return to the ring.
Kabayel's recent performances have put him in a strong position, and he's got options. He could face Joshua, Deontay Wilder, or even Fury if he comes out of retirement.
The heavyweight division is buzzing with possibilities, and Joshua's next move will be crucial for his career. A fight for the WBC interim title could be just what he needs to get back to boxing's upper echelons.
