Thursday 29 April 2021 10:27, UK
After Anthony Joshua's Wembley triumph, we asked the men behind the other world champions about a potential unification clash with 'AJ'.
Deontay Wilder and Joseph Parker are the other title holders in the top division, but are they willing to put their belts on the line against Joshua?
We asked promoter Lou DiBella, who works closely with Wilder, and David Higgins, the leading figure in Parker's promotional team for their thoughts on a future unification clash.
DiBella: It was a tremendous show of heart by Joshua. If Klitschko was a younger Klitschko, I don't think Joshua would have survived that round. But surviving that round showed a tremendous amount of grit and really the young champion walked through the fire. Tremendous props to AJ on getting past that round.
It was a great spectacle, a quality fight, it helps to revive the heavyweight division. Wilder and Joshua will simply be sensational.
Higgins: The fact that Joshua won is so good for heavyweight boxing, in fact, I would go as far to say it's the rebirth of the heavyweight division - that day at Wembley.
There was a period of boredom and fragmented titles. That's the rebirth and we're on a cusp of a period of high interest. Hopefully, I see titles unifying within two years' time. Big credit to Anthony Joshua, Eddie Hearn and Wladimir Klitschko for making it happen.
DiBella: It was a tremendous spectacle. Credit to how it was staged by Eddie and everyone involved in staging the fight. I thought AJ's entrance was spectacular, the pyrotechnics, the fire, 90,000 people.
The crowd and the enthusiasm added a whole other dimension to the fight and raised the event to a different level.
The level of support and the belief in this kid in Britain is ridiculous. His drawing power is unbelievable.
Higgins: It was a wonderful fight, a wonderful spectacle. The Joshua team should be credited for stepping up, big time, into quite a challenging fight and challenging opponent.
DiBella: They are two big, strong, quality heavyweights. They both present danger for one another.
I think if Deontay lands flush, with the kind of punch Klitschko landed, I don't know that Joshua would get up. But at the same time, Joshua is a big, strong, quality heavyweight, and he poses his own risks.
I think if Deontay lands flush, with the kind of punch Klitschko landed, I don't know that Joshua would get up.
It's a wonderful fight. I would expect an explosive, quality fight. I don't think Joshua has quite the concussive power that Deontay has, but Joshua brings other intangibles.
Higgins: On the Joseph Parker side we are encouraged. I saw chinks in Joshua's armour. Joseph Parker has never been off his feet, never once, so that's interesting.
Joshua certainly looks the part with the muscles and all that, but he got robotic or predictable a bit, and I wouldn't go quite as far to say chinny, but it's certainly interesting that he's hitting the canvas. Joseph has a rock solid chin.
But this is me talking and not Joseph Parker, who is a respectful young lad. I'm not being disrespectful, I'm just breaking it down.
DiBella: I think it's going to take some time still. It still was a fight from Europe. It got attention, it was live on a beautiful afternoon and delayed [American TV coverage] later that night. It certainly got a lot of attention.
Down the road, I think Joshua and Wilder will be a massive fight - and Joshua-Wilder will not go the distance.
I would say certainly by next year.
Higgins: Joseph won't look past the fight in front of him, which is this Saturday, but certainly if that goes to plan, we'd be willing to unify. Just say when and where.
We would take the fight on the right terms and there would be no messing around.
Should Saturday go to plan, then 100 per cent we would fight Joshua next, and we would fight him any time between August and December.
Should Saturday go to plan, then 100 per cent we would fight Joshua next, and we would fight him any time between August and December.
