New IBF World Heavyweight Champion Anthony Joshua could be in line for a Wembley showdown with former champion David Haye, as Manny Sarpong reports.
Britain’s new World Heavyweight Champion Anthony Joshua has hinted that his first defence of the IBF title may come against fellow Londoner David Haye at Wembley. Hackney-born Joshua defeated American boxer Charles Martin inside two rounds on Saturday night in front of a sold-out Greenwich O2 Arena.
Speaking in his post-fight interview with Sky Sports, Joshua said: “I’m up for the challenge, I’ll fight anyone. I heard David Haye called me out a few times, Tyson Fury too wants a piece of me, and I don’t mind; I’m ready whenever.”
Challenge
However, the controversial WBA & WBO Heavyweight Champion Fury has to overcome the challenge of Wladmir Klitschko, with their world title rematch scheduled for July 9th in Manchester. Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn added more fuel to the fire when he stated that Joshua’s next fight could possibly well be on that same date.
Former WBA champion Haye was present at the venue as a Sky Sports pundit, and made several remarks about challenging Joshua for his newly acquired title. Haye, the 35-year-old Bermondsey-born heavyweight, made a comeback in January with a first-round knockout of Mark de Mori in London, after a three-and-half-year lay-off.
However, Haye has a fight scheduled next month against Swiss boxer Arnold Gjergjaj on May 21. If Haye wins that fight, then it’s possible that he could be free to fight Joshua next – possibly July 9th at Wembley.
Chin
Haye told Sky Sports: “I really want to fight Anthony Joshua. The way I fight is completely different to Charles Martin. I’d relish the opportunity to fight Joshua. I’ve never had problem with big guys like that. Klitschko hit me on the chin and he didn’t put me down. I can’t think of a bigger fight in world boxing.”
Nevertheless, if the Joshua vs Haye fight does not happen, given that Joshua’s promoting team Matchroom Boxing has signed a year’s contract with BSkyB for the broadcasting rights and David Haye’s infamous fallout with BSkyB which led to his last fight being shown on a less glamorous Dave TV Network, Haye could be facing 44-year-old Shannon Briggs who aggressively confronted him at the weigh in on Friday.
Shocked
Joshua, 26, shocked the world on Saturday when he easily dispensed Martin to clinch the world heavyweight title in only his 16th professional bout. The home crowd and even Joshua himself seemed shocked that the American southpaw fighter failed to get up to make the referee’s 10-count, having been knocked down twice in the second round.
In what was touted as his biggest test yet, Joshua overcame it with ease and it surely must have sent ripples through the heavyweight division that there is definitely a new star in town.