Eddie Hearn has promised an update on Tuesday morning as Anthony Joshua searches for a new opponent this weekend.
Joshua was due to take on rival Dillian Whyte at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday, however, the showdown was cancelled after Whyte failed a VADA (Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency) drug test.
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The announcement was made last weekend, beginning a scramble to find former heavyweight world champion Joshua a new opponent, but Hearn delivered some promising news on Monday night.
Tweeting a picture of Joshua in training, Hearn said: “Update tomorrow morning. Stand by [fist emoji].”
It’s not clear who will take Whyte’s place, or if the show will even go ahead, but plenty of names have been linked with the task of locking horns with Joshua.
Derek Chisora, Gerald Washington, Filip Hrgovic and Demsey McKean, who are billed to feature on the undercard, have all been linked to fight the 33-year-old.
Meanwhile, Robert Helenius is also understood to be a contender, as is Andy Ruiz, who stunned Joshua in June 2019 in New York to take his world titles before ‘AJ’ won the rematch.
Boxing promoter Frank Warren, who promotes WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, believes Joshua will take the ‘easiest’ option.
“They’ll go for the easiest one they can because they don’t want to jeopardise the payday they’re gonna get in Saudi Arabia,” Warren told talkSPORT.
“This is what this has all been about and why the heavyweight division has been held up for nearly a year now.
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“I don’t think him and Derek Chisora is going to set the world on fire. I got enough criticism for Chisora fighting Tyson when he was ranked and he was soundly beaten by Tyson.
“There’s a few other guys there, but he’ll go for the easiest option if he goes ahead and fights.”
Joshua has fought once this year, a points victory over American Jermaine Franklin in April.
A mega showdown with former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder has been touted for later this year, however, no announcement is expected until after this weekend, whether Joshua fights or not.
But before the weekend rolls around, Hearn has his own ‘fight’ to do as he goes to talkSPORT Towers on Tuesday morning for his second showdown with Simon Jordan after the pair verbally sparred in an epic contest in March.
Join us from 10am live on talkSPORT for Hearn vs Jordan II. Expect sparks to fly!
