"He's on the same page as the fans as well" - Anthony Joshua opens up on Turki Alalshikh's plans for his boxing future
Anthony Joshua recently shed light on Turki Alalshikh's vision for his boxing journey ahead.
Last month, the former two-time heavyweight world champion extended his unbeaten streak to four matches by flooring former UFC heavyweight titleholder Francis Ngannou twice before securing a knockout victory in the second round.
Saudi boxing chief Alalshikh recently shared a photo with 'AJ' alongside a caption hinting at a potential bout against the victor of the Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk match. He wrote:
"We are waiting for the result of Usyk vs. Fury"
Check out Turki Alalshikh's Instagram post below:
Fury and Usyk are slated to face off on May 18 in a showdown to determine the next undisputed world heavyweight champion, a title not claimed since Lennox Lewis in 1999.
During a recent interview with talkSPORT (via Michael Benson), Joshua shared that Alalshikh expressed a desire for his legacy to be defined by facing the toughest challenges in the ring:
"What he says is, 'In the future, I want people to look back at your record and say that you took on the best.' I said, 'Now you're speaking my language.' We’re on the same page, and he’s on the same page as the fans."
Joshua added:
"I know they want that big fight with Tyson Fury, and he’s working on it. But Fury’s got his obligations with Oleksandr Usyk, so I’ve gotta make sure I keep steamrolling through opponents so I can get closer and closer to the opportunity of me vs. Fury.”
Check out Anthony Joshua's comments below:
Anthony Joshua confirms next fight location and date
In the same interview, Anthony Joshua revealed that his next bout is scheduled for either Sept. 20 or 21 at London's Wembley Stadium.
'AJ' disclosed that four potential opponents are being considered. Deontay Wilder vs. Zhilei Zhang and Filip Hrgovic vs. Daniel Dubois are scheduled for June 1 in Riyadh. The standout performer from these matches will likely become the leading candidate to face him.
Check out Anthony Joshua's comments below:
In this anticipated match, 'AJ' might vie for the IBF world championship, which could become available if Tyson Fury or Oleksandr Usyk opt for a rematch. This situation offers Joshua a chance to compete for a third title in front of his home fans before the year concludes.