Deontay Wilder and Joe Joyce also in the running to face the ex-world champion
William Hill have priced Dillian Whyte at 7/4 to be Anthony Joshua’s next opponent after the Brit’s defeat to WBA and WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk this month.
The ‘Body Snatcher’ will be looking to avenge his first professional loss, having been beaten by AJ when they last clashed in 2015, and he’s the favourite to be the one to step into the ring with AJ next.
Priced at 4/1, American hard hitter Deontay Wilder is next in the betting and is followed closely by Joe Joyce at 6/1. However both boxers have fights in the schedule already, with Wilder facing Robert Helenius in a WBC World title eliminator in October in Brooklyn, and Joyce meets Joseph Parker in Manchester in September in a WBO Final Eliminator.
William Hill spokesperson, Tony Kenny, said: “Anthony Joshua will be looking to find his feet in the heavyweight division again after back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk and it will be interesting to see who he fights next.
“In what would be an epic all-British rematch, Dillian Whyte is the 7/4 favourite to be his next opponent, while Deontay Wilder and Joe Joyce also look worthy options at 4/1 and 6/1 respectively.”
Anthony Joshua next opponent:
Dillian Whyte | 7/4 |
Deontay Wilder | 4/1 |
Joe Joyce | 6/1 |
Tyson Fury | 7/1 |
Daniel Dubois | 8/1 |
Filip Hrgovic | 8/1 |
Otto Wallin | 8/1 |
Hughie Fury | 14/1 |
Dereck Chisora | 16/1 |
Other bookies have 'The Body Snatcher' at 3-1 favourite to share the ring with AJ next, but Whyte's brother Dean was recently quoted saying they were chasing the WBA 'Regular' World title fight with Daniel Dubois. Swede Otto Wallin, who gave an horrendous cut to Tyson Fury in their 2019 fight, has been very vocal in his bid to face Joshua next, and he is next in line at the bookies.
Promoter Eddie Hearn was fortunately very clear on Anthony Joshua's future matches: "I see the Dillian Whyte fight as a must-make fight. I see Deontay Wilder as a must-make fight. And I also see him fighting Tyson Fury because it's still a monumental fight."
BBN Editor, Tim Rickson, added his opinion, "Dillian Whyte would be a great choice of opponent for Anthony Joshua next. The first fight attracted lots of attention but it wasn't a completely level playing field as Joshua was far more experienced as a professional at the time. This time Whyte would be improved and experienced and will make for a closer fight. Both boxers coming in off a loss and desperate to get back to world title contention would mean it would be a thrilling battle.
"I hope Joshua fights on for many more years like he has promised to in the past. There's so many exciting fights out there for him; Zhilei Zhang in China would be huge, and will make AJ a star over there in a country that would do big numbers – Zhang said 60 million tuned in to watch his last fight! Otto Wallin would be an interesting opponent with a bit of a back story, having been beaten by big Josh twice in the amateurs, so their fight could be a trilogy. Daniel Dubois for the WBA 'Regular' would be a massive British fight, and one that would be hard to call. Joshua's experience should be the key factor, but Dubois' dangerous punching will have viewers on the edge of their seats. The loser of Joyce-Parker would be a solid choice of opponent, one would be a big British bout and the other would be an intruiging rematch.
"Martin Bakole in the Democratic Republic of Congo would also do big numbers, with AJ having African roots. A rearranged fight with Jarrell Miller would see the world backing AJ to beat the drug cheat once and for all.
"But for me, a trilogy with Andy Ruiz Jr is the fight I most want to see. I beleive the two are so evenly matched, and a third fight could put that trilogy into the history books, because AJ was surprised and unprepared for how good Ruiz Jr. was in their first fight, then boxed to a perfect game plan in the rematch to jab his way to victory, but he did stay away all fight and didn't want to engage, so a third fight to settle the score would see knockdowns. I'd equally want to see Joshua vs Wilder too. Could AJ avoid a big bomb from Wilder to win? You would be debating this all the way up to fight night and the anticipation would be off the scale."
