Even though Joshua only made his debut a year ago and has progressed nicely you still have people complaining about his level of opposition. I guess it's hard to match someone who is beating his opponents so easily, but he does need rounds so how would you match Joshua over the next year? :think
Sprott and then the likes of Kevin Johnson, Airich, maybe a Charr or Wach type, even Adamek (experienced named guys, durable but not world beaters) building to a big fight end of 2015/start of 2016 against the likes of Chisora/Fury/Price and then in 2016 vs top 5 guy at the time and try to look for a world title by the end of that year (taking over reigns from Wladamir or picking up vacated straps if he retires).
If he has the Sprott fight I would then go Kevin Johnson, Eddie Chambers, Steve Cunningham, Tony Thompson then he could either finish the year with Dereck Chisora or begin 2016 with that fight. I think we seem to forget he is 24 so there is no reason to catapult him all the way to the top when he could fight decent opposition for a couple of years before fighting the best there is. No point in risking it as he could end up having his career stalled like David Price has and match making will be very tough as I cant see people wanting to fight him either.
Sprott in British Title Eliminator as planned, then Cornish/Lewison/***ton for British title (providing Fury/Chisora vacate it) then Kevin Johnson which is already rumoured to be happening in May according to Steve Bunce, get some rounds under his belt then defend the British Title against David Price.
Chambers would be a good future opponent, Thompson and Cunningham could be banana skins if put in with too early but would be good options for late 2015 if he gets another few fights under his belt.
Who else can he fight for British title though? Fury/Chisora wont be interested at this stage, theres a chance the loser may be interested but a slim chance & would Joshua be ready after only 9 fights?
Does he really need the British title? Even if he wins it once, he's not going to hang around to win it outright anyway.
It'd be a waste of time for any fighter with world title aspirations to attempt to win the belt outright imo, don't know why Price made it such a priority. I guess its just the traditional route of British heavyweights to win the british title early in their career, but no Joshua does not NEED it especially with the class of domestic opposition below the top 3. If/when Joshua does meet Price/Fury/Chisora the fight will be much bigger than domestic level so the belt would be meaningless.
I think Sproutt is pretty much a waste of time fight now, hiring him as a regular sparring partner would be useful, but with light gloves it will be over in a flash. I would put AJ in with a Malik Scott or a Gerber next, then all going well I would then put him in a Eddie Chambers and also a British title fight, then in with a Chisora, then a couple of opponents in the Thompson, Price, Lepai, Browne bracket, then if he come through them I would put him in with a couple of fighters like Adamek, Cunningham, Jennings then I would go for a final eliminator then a world title fight if all goes to plan. So in other words I would look for about 11 fights more before a world title fight, against a gradual build up of opponents, and fighters of different styles and sizes