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Joseph Parker has faced some of the heavyweight division’s biggest hitters, not least Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua.

Parker was served his first loss by ‘AJ’ back in 2018, losing his WBO World Heavyweight World Title in the process. Recently, he has built back on an incredible run of form that includes beating Wilder and Zhilei Zhang on points.

Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua

Speaking to Through The Ropes, Parker said Zhang – who put him down twice – hit harder than Wilder though admitted he perhaps hadn’t felt the full force of the American.

“I would say Zhang [hit harder] cause he dropped me twice and landed the cleaner shots. Wilder did hit hard but never really clean. I was lucky my hand was up to catch his punches.”

This sentiment was backed up in a conversation with Tony Bellew, who revealed that the New Zealander does believe ‘Big Bang’ has hit him hardest out of all opponents – that includes Wilder, Joshua and Dillian Whyte.

“[Parker] actually told me Zhang’s the hardest he’s ever been hit in his life. He said Zhang hits so hard.”

Next up for Parker may be one man who hits harder than even Zhang – current IBF World Champion Daniel Dubois on February 22. Dubois recently knocked out Joshua in five to retain the belt it after he was elevated from interim to full champ when Oleksandr Usyk vacated the belt.

Chinese southpaw Zhang returns on the same card to face Agit Kabayel. Should both he and Parker win, Zhang will be angling for a contracted rematch that never came to fruition.

Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou met in a big heavyweight clash back in March.

It brought together two men that had sent shockwaves through the division in recent times, but for very different reasons.

Joshua had bounced back following his two straight defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, where he had lost his unified world heavyweight titles.

He had picked up wins over Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius since those losses, but had failed to set the world alight with either of those performances.

That changed with his next outing, where he outclassed Otto Wallin a dominant fifth round retirement victory, setting up the fight against Ngannou.

It was a slightly different path for Ngannou that earned him the Joshua bout, with the former UFC heavyweight champion initially making the switch from MMA to take on Tyson Fury in October 2023.

Ngannou shocked the world when he knocked down Fury in the third round, but went on to lose the fight by a close split decision.

Then came the fight against Joshua, but ‘AJ’ made it a one-sided affair, dropping Ngannou multiple times on his way to a destructive second round knockout win.

Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou

While some fans felt that Ngannou may want to avenge his defeat, he told Seconds Out that he wasn’t happy with things that happened throughout fight week and is not interested in running it back.

“A rematch with Joshua? I felt very off and not comfortable in that fight. It’s something that could happen, but what I do know for sure is I want the rematch with Fury.

“I’m not a conspiracy theorist but I didn’t like the Joshua fight. Things weren’t right, and if it would be the same scenario, I’m not interested. Something unfair definitely happened. I don’t have the full picture but I have seen myself what wasn’t right. I was in the locker room for almost four hours, which is not something that happens, so just from there.”

Ngannou has also been linked to Deontay Wilder.

Oleksandr Usyk has stuck his neck on the line with a prediction for who would win in a fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. It is the fight that many British fans want to see and with the prospect of a trilogy clash between Fury and the Ukrainian now evaporated, it looks more likely.

Usyk beat the Gypsy King 116-112 on all three judges’ scorecards on Saturday night to claim his second win of the year over him and retain his WBC, WBO, and WBA heavyweight titles.

And he speaks from a place of authority having also dispatched Joshua twice, beating the Brit on points in 2021 and 2022. A domestic dust-up has been mooted for the best part of a decade, ever since Fury first became champion when he dethroned Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015. But the stars have not aligned thus far with both Fury and AJ reaching the twilight of their careers.

Usyk was asked two questions by Boxing King Media: “Who was a harder overall opponent, and who would be the favourite between the two if they fought?” The Cat said that Fury had been the more difficult opponent across 24 rounds, but believes AJ would win on “maybe points”.

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua
We could find out in 2025, with Wembley Stadium beckoning for what remains arguably the biggest commercial fight in world boxing. Both men would be entering the bout off the back of defeats after Joshua was dominated by Daniel Dubois in September.  In his post-fight press conference, Fury was asked what the future holds.

“You might see me fight again, you might not,” he cryptically answered.

Forget Anthony Joshua. Tyson Fury is looking to beat Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia this weekend, then rematch him in 2025.

Sorry, boxing fans: if Tyson Fury beats Oleksandr Usyk this weekend in Riyadh, we won’t be seeing him fight Anthony Joshua.

Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua has been a white whale for combat sports fans, and its absence is felt even as we get all of these wild heavyweight fights in Saudi Arabia. One of those fights is Usyk vs. Fury 2, the sequel to a fight that saw Usyk become unified heavyweight champion via a split decision win (watch the highlights here).

Tyson Fury is coming into Saturday’s superfight more confident than ever, saying he was fighting at 40% ability in the first bout. Now promising 110%, he intends to clobber Usyk and force a trilogy.

“When I win on Saturday, I think there’s got to be a trilogy next year for sure,” Fury told Saudi network Al Arabiya. “Fighting Usyk on Saturday, and the one after, would be fantastic for me. It’s not revenge, just me smashing his face in. Not in a million years will I walk away after this. All great dance partners have trilogies. Facts.”

As for a fight with Anthony Joshua?

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua

Oleksandr Usyk has always seemed to retain a soft spot Anthony Joshua after twice beating him in 2021 and 2022.

The first time the pair met was only Usyk’s third fight up at heavyweight. He had already won everything there was to win down at cruiserweight and was on a mission to repeat the feat in the most celebrated division of them all.

After beating Joshua the first time on points, he did so again in an immediate rematch and then made a defence against Daniel Dubois before facing Tyson Fury back in May.

That undisputed heavyweight championship contest ended with another points victory for the Ukrainian southpaw who also claimed Olympic Gold in the amateurs.

Right now there are just a few days to go until he returns to the ring in Saudi Arabia to rematch Fury who is keen to overturn the result of the first contest and get revenge for the only loss on his professional ledger.

Ahead of that, Usyk took part in a round of winner stays on with DailyMail Sport and was asked who would win if Joshua were to face Wilder and he went with the Brit.

Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson fury

“Anthony Joshua.”

Hard-hitting Wilder was a WBC champion for many years, and Joshua held the rest of the world titles at the same time. Although the pair were long linked for a fight, it never happened, and then Wilder was dethroned by Fury.

He has since lost back-to-back against Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang. Though many felt he may retire, the American has confirmed he will fight on.

Since the Usyk loss, ‘AJ’ managed a string of four victories before being stopped by Daniel Dubois in his attempt to become a three-time heavyweight world champion.

With both Joshua and Wilder looking for a way back to the top whilst also being in the biggest fights possible, the explosive match-up may be more likely than ever.

Boxing star and 2012 Olympic heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua gave his first coach, Sean Murphy, a memorable surprise by attending his birthday celebration. Joshua shared a photo from the event on his Instagram account.

Murphy not only helped Joshua claim numerous titles and Olympic gold but also played a pivotal role in steering him away from the dangerous streets of London. Joshua has often acknowledged that joining Murphy’s boxing club was life-changing.

“When I was younger I was partying, I was getting in trouble, I had the court cases. That was my reckless days when I was smoking. It was at my first boxing club where I learned discipline. How to forget your ego and listen to instructions if you want to achieve things,” Joshua told the BBC in 2017.

Although the pair parted ways in 2021 after Joshua’s loss to Oleksandr Usyk, the boxer continues to support Murphy and his first gym. Joshua has gifted Murphy a new car and financed renovations for the club’s facilities.

Former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua might challenge for the WBC interim title after the sanctioning body approved a match between Zhilei Zhang and Agit Kabayel.

WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman has announced that the victor of the Zhang-Kabayel fight might face Joshua, giving the British-Nigerian a new road to heavyweight greatness without quick rematches with Daniel Dubois, Tyson Fury, or Oleksandr Usyk.

“The WBC has received a formal request to sanction this fight for the interim title, and we will accept it,” Sulaiman told The Independent. “We’ve been clear and transparent in supporting the best possible matchups, especially in the heavyweight division.”

Joshua, who suffered a knockout defeat to Dubois at Wembley Stadium in September, had been linked with a rematch, but the IBF champion is now set to defend his title against Joseph Parker in February.

The WBC’s decision comes as Fury and Usyk prepare for their December 21 unification showdown, following Usyk’s unanimous victory over Fury in May. Usyk’s subsequent vacation of the IBF belt led to Dubois being elevated to full champion status.

“For the winner on December 21, there are many options,” Sulaiman added.

“Whether it’s a trilogy fight, a rematch for undisputed status, or another high-level event, we want to ensure the champion remains active while delivering sensational fights.”

The opportunity represents a potential fast track back to world honours for the 35-year-old Joshua, with No.2-ranked Kabayel set to face No.4-ranked Zhang, who sit either side of the often-avoided Martin Bakole in the WBC rankings.

Former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua may soon have a chance to fight for the WBC interim title. This development follows the WBC’s approval of a bout between Zhilei Zhang and Agit Kabayel for the interim belt, as confirmed by WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman.

“The WBC has received a formal request to sanction this fight for the interim title, and we will accept it,” Sulaiman stated. He emphasized the WBC’s commitment to securing top-tier matchups, particularly in the heavyweight division.

The winner of the Zhang-Kabayel fight could face Joshua, offering the British-Nigerian a new path back to heavyweight prominence. This route bypasses immediate rematches against top contenders like Daniel Dubois, Tyson Fury, or Oleksandr Usyk.

Joshua, 35, is seeking redemption after a knockout loss to Dubois in September at Wembley. While speculation about a rematch lingered, Dubois is now focused on defending his IBF title against Joseph Parker in February.

This WBC decision aligns with the broader heavyweight landscape, as Fury and Usyk prepare for a historic unification bout on December 21. Usyk’s previous victory over Fury in May, coupled with his vacating of the IBF belt, elevated Dubois to full champion status.

For Joshua, a potential showdown with Zhang or Kabayel presents a fast-tracked route to reclaiming world honors, revitalizing his career in the highly competitive heavyweight division.

British-Nigerian heavyweight Anthony Joshua has backed Oleksandr Usyk to defeat Tyson Fury once again when the pair meet for a rematch in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on December 21.

Joshua, who lost to Usyk twice in 2021 and 2022, believes Fury lacks the tools to overcome the Ukrainian’s skill and discipline in their highly anticipated clash.

“I said Usyk will win. I said that from 2023. I do think Fury’s a good fighter, but there’s levels,” Joshua told IFL TV.

“A cruiserweight nearly knocked Fury out. You’ve got to learn from these situations. I don’t think he underestimated him, but what he was saying about middleweights just goes to show you should never downplay a fighter.”

Fury suffered his first career defeat against Usyk in May after a gruelling contest that saw him barely survive a punishing ninth round. The Briton activated his rematch clause immediately and has vowed to secure victory without relying on the judges’ scorecards.

However, Joshua has expressed doubt over Fury’s chances, urging him to show more respect for Usyk’s capabilities.

ANTHONY JOSHUA

“Me personally what I think, nah. No way,” Joshua added.

“I think Fury’s good, he had some good moments, but I just don’t think he can do it. It’s not that I don’t rate him, I just don’t think he’s better than Usyk. Fury maybe should give him the respect he deserves next time, and he might put on a better performance.”

The rematch is expected to draw global attention, with Usyk aiming to cement his dominance and Fury seeking redemption.

For Joshua, the outcome could shape his own future. His promoter, Eddie Hearn, has reiterated plans to secure the long-awaited Fury fight regardless of the result, though a second Fury loss may ease negotiations.

Joshua, who recently lost to Daniel Dubois in a bid to reclaim the heavyweight crown, remains focused on his own career but will undoubtedly have a vested interest in the Riyadh showdown.

Fierce rival Dillian Whyte insists Anthony Joshua still has plenty to offer in the ring despite his devastating fifth-round knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in September.

Speaking to Sky Sports News, Whyte, who has a long-standing rivalry with Joshua dating back to their 2015 British title fight, backed the former two-time world champion to bounce back.

“He’s still got a lot left in the tank, and he’s still a big draw,” Whyte said. “As you can see in the fight, he’s still a big puncher. He had Dubois going before Dubois landed the finishing blow.

“It’s hard to say, but he’s young, he’s strong, and he looks in amazing shape. He’s still got a lot of fight left in him.”

Joshua’s defeat to Dubois at Wembley Stadium saw the younger fighter claim the IBF heavyweight title in emphatic style. However, Whyte cautioned against overreacting to a single defeat, especially in the unpredictable world of heavyweight boxing.

“People put too much emphasis on a defeat in heavyweight boxing,” Whyte added.

“That’s why a lot of fights don’t happen. They don’t get made because people focus too much on win, lose, or draw, instead of enjoying two top guys fighting each other. That wasn’t happening a few years ago.”

While talk of a potential rematch with Dubois has surfaced, Joshua is unlikely to return to action as early as February, when Dubois is slated to make his first title defence.

Anthony joshua

Trainer Tony Sims, who worked with Joshua in the early stages of his professional career, believes the former champion’s next logical step should be a long-awaited clash with Tyson Fury, regardless of Fury’s result against Oleksandr Usyk in December.

“I think the younger ones now, leave them alone. Boxing evolves, like anything in life. The young ones come through. Joshua’s 34, going on 35. He’s been a great champion. You’ve got a young, hungry fighter in Daniel Dubois, and he’s taken that title,” Sims said.

“But the obvious fight is still Tyson Fury versus Joshua, whether Tyson wins or loses against Usyk. That’s still a massive fight. Both of them are older now, but it’s a great fight for both of them and one the fans want to see.”

For Joshua, the road back may be long, but voices like Whyte and Sims suggest his career is far from over.

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