ANTHONY JOSHUA must finalise a new opponent “this week” if he’s to stay on course for an August ring return.
The Watford warrior’s domestic dust-up with long-time rival Dillian Whyte collapsed this week due to a purse dispute.
Team AJ are desperate for the former unified champ to take part in an August warm-up before a December dust-up with Deontay Wilder in Saudi Arabia.
Promoter Eddie Hearn is hard at work trying to find a suitable short-notice opponent but admits the clock is ticking.
The Matchroom Boxing head-honcho told iFL TV: “There’s two or three opponents that we’re looking at but I’m not going to tell you who they are.
“But we need to do it this week.”
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Saudi boxing chiefs are fearful their proposed multi-million-pound grudge match between Joshua and Wilder could go up in smoke if the Brit fights later this summer.
Hearn revealed: “Saudi definitely doesn’t want us to fight in August, but we want to fight in August.
“And I think it would be good for his career to fight in August, so that’s still the plan.”
“I don’t think Saudi want him to fight,” he told Boxing Social. “Because they want him to be ready for Deontay Wilder in December.
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“But we as a team, Derrick James, Anthony and 258 Management all feel that it would be beneficial for his preparation to have that fight in August.”
Undefeated German Agit Kabayel is in contention to be the man standing opposite AJ at the O2 in 7 weeks’ time, although Hearn admits he’s finding it difficult to find a suitable opponent for the Olympian.
He said: “[Agit Kabayel] may be on a long list. Anyone in the top fifteen.
“I don’t mind being honest – AJ’s going to fight Deontay Wilder in December. That’s our 100 per cent focus.
“So he needs a fight against someone who’s going to allow him to work on, under the lights, everything he’s been working on with Derrick James.
“There’s no point fighting a fight that’s against someone he’s going to take out in a round.
“And it’s difficult to fight an elite, top three or five guy when you’re fighting Deontay Wilder four months later.
“So we’re in a bit of a difficult position.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
