Joshua fights to join the legends
ANTHONY JOSHUA aims to join the exclusive club of undisputed world heavyweight champions by the end of next year.
Lennox Lewis was the last undisputed champion 17 years ago and sits alongside legends such as Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, George Foreman and Joe Frazier.
Joshua unified the IBF and WBA Super belts against Wladimir Klitschko and promoter Eddie Hearn has big plans for 2018 after Saturday’s defence against Carlos Takam in Cardiff.
Hearn has pencilled in three fights for the unbeaten Joshua next year, including unification clashes with WBO champ Joseph Parker and then WBC king Deontay Wilder.
He said: “We could fight Parker in February or March, so Anthony could have the WBO, then it’s only one more.
“Providing everything is OK, the aim is to fight three times next year. We’ve only boxed twice this year, which has worked out OK because the Klitschko fight was huge.
“But ideally, February or March, summer and then December. In a perfect world, two of the three would be for the additional belts.
“We’ll also have to fight a WBA mandatory next year, whether that’s in February, March or in the summer.”
Tyson Fury remains in Joshua’s sights, even though there is little prospect of the former WBA Super, IBF and WBO title holder, who has ballooned in size, ending his 23-month exile.
Joshua said: “If he wants to fight and gets his licence at 30 or even 40 stone, and starts showing he can move and control that weight, people will watch him.”