Anthony Joshua Faces Questions with His Future in Mind
By Eddie Sanchez
Fight fans, Anthony Joshua’s (25 – 3, 22 KO) latest ring return was dealt a major blow! In what was originally scheduled to be a rematch of his 2015 PPV debut, he will no longer be able to attempt to defeat Dillian Whyte (29 – 3, 19 KO) a second time. Unfortunately, VADA (Voluntary Anti-Doping Association) KO’d Whyte for the third time in his career. His A and B sample tests have once again been flagged for adverse findings.
In what was surely to be a vastly important matchup for Joshua, fans are now left to wonder if Anthony Joshua will have an opponent to fight this coming weekend at all. Derek Chisora and Gerald Washington, two heavyweight veterans who were scheduled to face each other on the undercard, have each thrown their name in the ring to step up on short notice as challengers. Across Twitter and traditional media, many are not excited with that prospect, though acknowledge the validity of them as last-minute choices.
With the Whyte bout scrapped, and two underwhelming options slated to choose for this upcoming fight, all eyes turn towards the potential Joshua vs Deontay Wilder super fight. If you ask Wilder, he’s confident in the prospect.
“Soon. Maybe January, me versus Joshua, it’s going down.” With the temperature rising as it relates to this highly anticipated match, the pressure will be on Joshua to continue the momentum and win this weekend.
UPDATE: AUGUST 7 at 8:00 PM ET
Respected Journalist, Dan Rafael, confirms that the fight will go on! Well, for Joshua’s sake. The opponent is still TBD.
Eddie Hearn, the promoter for Anthony Joshua, confirms that a formal announcement will take place tomorrow 8/8.
UPDATE: AUGUST 7 at 8:00 PM ET
The fight is truly set. Anthony Joshua to face Robert Helenius on Aug. 12, ladies and gentlemen, the show is still on! In a corresponding move, this fight card will no longer be a DAZN PPV, and instead, will be broadcast on standard DAZN.
As someone who saw Deontay Wilder take on Robert Helenius live in person, in Brooklyn, last October, this should be a quick night for the main event. Joshua will be highly motivated to end this fight in spectacular fashion to lead to a possible fight with the aforementioned Wilder.
