AJs December opponent

My doughs on Zhang or even Hrgovic, if it's the latter then we can expect a spin along the lines of "He was only at 60% on the night in Saudi KoooogZ"

 

They should match him with Wallin.
Not particularly dangerous.
Respectable name.
Southpaw (get rid of some demons)

 

I think it'll be Whyte.

Hearn knows it's probably the most commercially viable of those listed above. Whyte will take the fight too and will be fine having not fought since April.

It's a far more attractive fight for Whyte than Dubois.

I think it's very unlikely they'd risk someone like Hrgovic or Parker and I doubt Parker would fight so soon after Joyce.

I think Ziang is possible, but it's a tough sell.

The trouble they have with Joshua is that they have to make him fight a household name. They've criticised Fury for fighting the likes of Schwartz and Seferi so have now backed themselves into a corner regarding opponent choice.

 

None of the above.
He's had 4 fights in the last 50 months. Does anyone really think he's going to fight within the next 16 weeks?

 

I think so. Hearn said himself, they need to get him more active and enjoying his boxing again. Hearn also always likes to put on a big pre-Xmas show.

I think Joshua is very proud and will want to put the loss behind him ASAP. Also he won't want a pushover job - which is perhaps slightly misguided.

 

After his first loss to Usyk, "Hearn said himself" the rematch would be in 5 months.
He's lost 3 out of his last 5. Do you think he's ready to go again in a few weeks?

 

I think so. He's at a bit of a crossroads in his career and is almost 33.

 

They will stick him in with someone like Whyte who doesn’t believe he can beat Joshua and is ripe to be knocked out. Whyte ducked Wallin. Why not put him in with Joshua? Wallin is crap, after all. Much worse than Molina, Takam, Martin and Breazeale (who he luckily beat).

 

KSI

 

In an ideal world I'd like it be the Joyce vs Parker winner but that isbtoo short of a turn a round for them to make December.

With Whyte reportedly in line to fight Dubois it looks like he is out the running.

Opponent quality wise that I believe would make for great fights is Sanchez or Bakole. However these two aren't known to the casuals and are a higher risk.

I think the most realistic opponents are:

Hrgovic - IBF mandatory that fought as co main event on the same card. Was the bogeyman of the divison ducked by Parker,,l Hunter, Ruiz and Ortiz. However after a dissapointing and close fight with Zhang,I don't think people would be ducking him anymore.

Wallin - soft and dissapointing opponent that AJ will do a demolition number on and make quick work off. Hearn will spin this as this guy who caused Fury so many issues and AJ made light work of him etc.

 

Connor Benn at a catchweight of 14st 7Ibs

 

Wallin is an interesting suggestion. You're right in the narrative Hearn will give it. It's also entirely predictable you include some anti-Fury sentiment in there; but it wouldn't be a Mitchy post without that !

He is awkward though and a southpaw. Clearly, Joshua struggles with southpaws (albeit a generational one in Usyk).

I think they'd rather choose a fighter Joshua is almost guaranteed to look good against - that man is Whyte. Whyte would take a Joshua fight over Dubois.

 

If in December it would be Otto Wallin, before potentially Whyte in April / May. The most important thing is for Joshua to remain active. I don't rate Wallin myself but a lot of the board do and rate him over the likes of Whyte and Parker, so it would be a good confidence boost for Joshua to beat him in better fashion than Fury did.

I thought Whyte signed to fight Dubois.

I'm not sure how ready Joshua will be to fight in December though. It's a short turnaround after a mentally scarring defeat.