Joshua is cagey about his future
HEAVIES: NEW CHAMPION NOW A MAJOR PLAYER AGAIN
Anthony Joshua would not be drawn on his future plans after regaining his world heavyweight titles from Andy Ruiz on Saturday. The British star won back his WBA, IBF and WBO belts with a one-sided unanimous defeat of Ruiz in Diriyah outside Saudi Arabia’s capital.
The victory reinstates Joshua as a major player in boxing’s most glamorous division, and instantly renews speculation about a possible unification superfight with WBC champion Deontay Wilder.
But Joshua, 30, said while he remained open to a fight with the unbeaten Wilder, he would not
“chase” the fight.
“It’s difficult to unite them,” said Joshua, who had seen negotiations with Wilder’s camp fall flat several times before his defeat to Ruiz in June.
“We’ll see what happens. Chasing that fight wasn’t playing to my benefit, so I’m going to let the path takes it course.
“When the opportunity presents itself to become unified heavyweight champion I’ll take it.”
Ruiz meanwhile is eager for a third meeting with Joshua. Although Joshua indicated he would be happy to face the Mexican-American again, that fight is unlikely to happen anytime soon.
In the short term, Joshua faces mandatory title defences against
IBF challenger Kubrat Pulev and WBO contender Oleksandr Usyk.
Promoter Eddie Hearn also declined to elaborate on Joshua’s future plans.
“Tonight’s about celebrating victory,” Hearn said. “We’ll speak to the governing bodies and see who goes first.”
“We are going to celebrate. Anthony Joshua is an amazing ambassador for the sport. Tonight, in Saudi Arabia, he becomes the two-time heavyweight champion of the world and that is beautiful.
Joshua, meanwhile, said he had never doubted his ability to regain the titles despite his shocking defeat in New York, when Ruiz knocked him down four times in one of heavyweight boxing’s greatest upsets. – AFP