Anthony Joshua is hoping to have a successful 2025.
The past 12 months have had mixed emotions for the Brit, having started 2024 with a destructive second round knockout win over Francis Ngannou.
That saw ‘AJ’ then set up a showdown with IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in September, but it ended in disaster for Joshua as Dubois won the fight by devastating fifth round knockout.
It leaves Joshua in a tough situation, with most observers assuming that his next fight will be the long-awaited all-British showdown with Tyson Fury.
The fight is coming several years later than fans would have liked though, with neither man currently holding any world titles, after Fury lost his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk in December.
While ‘AJ’ has acknowledged that a clash with Fury is on the cards for 2025, there is another big goal he is targeting, as he revealed to NTA Network.
“Three-time world champion and Tyson Fury.”
Joshua’s plan to become a three-time world champion could mean a fight with Fury doesn’t materialise, with Usyk currently holding the WBC, WBA and WBO titles, while Dubois holds the IBF belt.
Dubois defends his title in February against Joseph Parker, a man that ‘AJ’ did beat back in March 2018 while he was unified champion.
Having lost to Dubois already, and also suffering two defeats to Usyk in 2021 and 2022, the likelihood is that Joshua will be unable to walk straight back into another crack at world honours, particularly having turned down the option of an immediate rematch with Dubois due to ‘niggling injuries.’
It means that a fight with Fury may indeed have to come next, with a win there potentially setting Joshua up for his chance to achieve his goal of being a three-time world heavyweight champion.
