IBF Heavyweight Champion Anthony Joshua is currently enjoying a brief break following a successful first defence of his belt last month against American Dominic Breazeale.
Anthony Joshua (17-0-17KO) has made as impressive a start to his professional boxing career as anybody, beating who has being put in front of him so far, maintaining a 100 per cent knockout ratio and capturing a version of the heavyweight title in just 16 fights.
But fans of the popular Londoner are eager for Joshua to step up and fight some of the big names in heavyweight boxing, and indeed other young talented heavyweights coming through.
One of these young heavyweights from New Zealand, Joseph Parker, is now number one contender for his belt, but Chairman of Matchroom Sport (Joshua’s promotional company) Barry Hearn speaking to James Dielhenn of Sky Sports has said he’d prefer someone else next:
“(Bermane) Stiverne is probably my number one choice because of his credibility.”
Many fans will remember Stiverne (25-2-1-21KO) from when he captured the then vacant WBC heavyweight title back in 2014 over American Chris Arreola, only to lose the strap in his next fight to current WBC champion Deontay Wilder, although he took the big hitting Wilder the distance that night.
Since then however, Stiverne has come back with a unanimous decision win last November over New Yorker Derric Rossy but has yet to have fought in 2016.
Stiverne is certainly still a decent heavyweight with a solid punch and is very durable but at 37 years old, Joshua would be expected to win the fight rather convincingly I suspect.
Personally I’d like to see the Parker fight next, but time will tell who the Londoner opts to fight later this year.
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