IBF, WBA, IBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (19-0, 19 KOs) has a huge target on his back, and the other fighters in his weight class are all ready to take their shot.
Joshua was expected to have a rematch with Wladimir Klitschko in the fall. Those plans fell through when Klitschko announced his retirement from the sport on Thursday.
Following his Klitschko's retirement, the World Boxing Association ordered Joshua to face Luis Ortiz and the International Boxing Federation ordered him to fight Kubrat Pulev.
Even WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder has called for a showdown with Joshua on November 11 in Las Vegas.
Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, has made it clear that Pulev is going to be their next opponent - and then they plan to make the mandatory against Ortiz.
He says they are more than willing to face Wilder in a unification, but that fight is likely going to have to be pushed back until next summer due to the situation with the multiple mandatory defense orders.
"Rather than fight anyone of note all Wilder does is call out people he knows can't fight him," Hearn exclusively told Sky Sports. "The IBF resolution following the Klitschko fight is a public document for everyone to see: 'after the rematch there will be no request for a unification considered by the IBF'.
"Obviously we now have to fight Pulev and Ortiz and it's going to be a tough balancing act. The Pulev mandatory was called some time ago and we already have signed correspondence that if it's not Klitschko then Pulev must be next. I would say right now the plan is Pulev, Ortiz then if Wilder still has a belt then AJ can relieve him of that next summer."
"AJ is 100 percent up for fighting Pulev, 100 per cent up for fighting Ortiz and 100 percent up for fighting Wilder and he wants to do it in a way to try and capture all belts. It's going to be difficult but let me tell you this young man fears no one."
Joshua was expected to have a rematch with Wladimir Klitschko in the fall. Those plans fell through when Klitschko announced his retirement from the sport on Thursday.
Following his Klitschko's retirement, the World Boxing Association ordered Joshua to face Luis Ortiz and the International Boxing Federation ordered him to fight Kubrat Pulev.
Even WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder has called for a showdown with Joshua on November 11 in Las Vegas.
Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, has made it clear that Pulev is going to be their next opponent - and then they plan to make the mandatory against Ortiz.
He says they are more than willing to face Wilder in a unification, but that fight is likely going to have to be pushed back until next summer due to the situation with the multiple mandatory defense orders.
"Rather than fight anyone of note all Wilder does is call out people he knows can't fight him," Hearn exclusively told Sky Sports. "The IBF resolution following the Klitschko fight is a public document for everyone to see: 'after the rematch there will be no request for a unification considered by the IBF'.
"Obviously we now have to fight Pulev and Ortiz and it's going to be a tough balancing act. The Pulev mandatory was called some time ago and we already have signed correspondence that if it's not Klitschko then Pulev must be next. I would say right now the plan is Pulev, Ortiz then if Wilder still has a belt then AJ can relieve him of that next summer."
"AJ is 100 percent up for fighting Pulev, 100 per cent up for fighting Ortiz and 100 percent up for fighting Wilder and he wants to do it in a way to try and capture all belts. It's going to be difficult but let me tell you this young man fears no one."
