A fight against Anthony Joshua is a huge achievement for many British heavyweights.
The 2012 Olympic gold medallist has had his fair share of domestic fights, facing the likes of Dillian ‘The Body Snatcher’ Whyte and Daniel Dubois amongst others.
Joshua is still a world-class heavyweight despite his knockout loss to ‘DDD’ and his two defeats to the now-undisputed heavyweight champion, Oleksandr Usyk.
Since suffering an elbow injury, he has been unable to compete in the ring, but rumours of a return next year have intensified, with Tony Yoka, who had ‘intense’ sparring with Dubois, one such name floated around.
A British heavyweight could land an incredible Anthony Joshua fight if he wins in October
Whilst no concrete names have yet emerged for the comeback fight, one British heavyweight has been promised a huge seven-figure fight against AJ, Deontay Wilder, or Joseph Parker if he wins in October.
Dave Allen will headline in Sheffield against the formidable Arslanbek Makhmudov, and if he wins, a big fight is ready to be delivered by Eddie Hearn.
In an interview with TalkSport, he cautiously responded to the news.
Allen said: “Yeah, it’s difficult because it’s hard not to look at that.
“But Makhmudov would be the best win of my career. People keep telling me all you’ve got to do is hit him to the body and take him a few rounds. I’m not Agit Kabayel, I wish I were Agit Kabayel.”
Parker is waiting on Usyk’s next move, and Wilder is looking for his next rival after stopping Tyrrell Herndon in the seventh round of his return bout.
Ever the realist, the ‘White Rhino’ was trying to temper expectations of the potentially life-changing opportunity he could land.
“I’m not Tyson Fury, I’m not Oleksandr Usyk, I am Dave Allen, I’m not a bad fighter, but Arslanbek Makhmudov is a big ask for me,” he said.
“This already is my world title fight, talks of Wilder, Joshua, Parker, but if I don’t beat Makhmudov, they will never happen.”
Hearn has had Jake Paul discussions for the Watford fighter for next year, but with established heavyweight names lining up as potential suitors for his first fight back, it could be the Doncaster heavyweight’s turn next year.
Eddie Hearn picks his British boxing GOAT but snubs former undisputed heavyweight champion
The head of Matchroom Boxing has promoted some of Britain’s best for well over a decade now and has seen the sport evolve since the days when his father, Barry Hearn, was involved.
When asked on a recent podcast who he believed was the greatest of all time in British boxing, he gave a surprising answer for number one.
He said: “Ability-wise and based on record, it would be Joe Calzaghe. From a natural skill and entertainment perspective, it would be Prince Naseem Hamed.
“In terms of what they did for the sport, it would be Anthony Joshua. But because of how tough he was, I’d have to pick Carl Froch.”
Choosing Carl Froch at number one is an unusual choice, especially when you consider that he snubbed Britain’s most recent undisputed heavyweight champion, Lennox Lewis.
It is no surprise that he placed a fighter he promoted in top spot, but to ignore the legacy of Lewis seems disrespectful within the conversation of the country’s best.