Tune up fight against a no hoper, on same weekend or at least same month or two as Fury against a no hoper (ideally same card but that wont happen), around march or so. Then Fury vs AJ in July 2026.
Got to be a Fury cash out hasn't it. Wardley would ice joshua his punch resistant has totally gone and hes so scared when he gets hit. The Fury fight is interesting because fury is chinny as well and he doesnt have big punch power. Its a 50/50 fight now
He should try to fight Fury, but I doubt Fury takes the fight. I don't think Fury's ego can take potentially losing to Joshua. It would cement him as the 3rd best of his generation. Both look past their best, but I think Joshua has way more to give physically, where as Fury looks shot to bits and his chin and recovering abilities are gone.
Fury is the obvious one. It's big money and low risk of serious harm - and it's winnable (relatively 50/50). But if Fury still doesn't want to fight? What then? If he isn't looking to get back at the belts or build legacy then a Dubois rematch or a bout with Wardley or Kabayel doesn't make much sense - they're high risk fights especially now that he's old and declined. If legacy were at all relevant, he might go after positioning on the WBC route just to try and complete the set if possible - but he might be too shopworn for that now. What's left is either: 1) Going back to rematch old opponents (Ruiz, Zhang, etc... even Whyte) 2) Teeing up some low-risk fights with guys who are overrated and limited danger just to make a few more okay paydays (Hrgovic, Sanchez, etc). 3) Going for some all British bouts and trying to get some domestic attention (Joyce, Allen, etc). Or just retire already - he's got more than enough money to live out his life on very comfortably if he's even remotely sensible.
Whatever he does he will end up knocked out again, he is beyond done. Even the occasional wild swing from midget YouTuber left him hesitant and negative until he tentatively rebuilt his confidence. He looks weak as ****.
AJ had nowhere to go before this fight he has nowhere to go after. It was just a rebound fight where he made a lot more money because the rebound is a celebrity. Theres no argument for him being in the title picture. Even Wilders got the advantage of being a new exciting opponent for Usyk. AJs exhausted his 2nd chances. Its over. AJ could cash out and fight Fury but the Wallin and Ngannou wins made it so that if AJ and Fury never fight AJ will be seen as the better fighter. Fighting Fury jeopardizes that.