WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has had a strong 2018 but surely he can’t be happy about not being part of what’s happening in LA on December 1st.

Through all the bull (at times) from promoter Eddie Hearn and back and forth goings on in negotiations this year to get the Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder fight made, to no fruition, the questions I’m left asking myself as the year draws to a close are these.

What fight are we getting on December 1st?

Deontay Wilder vs Tyson Fury.

How quickly was that fight made?

Very.

Does it pit two of the top three heavyweights in the world against one another?

Check.

Those are the simple facts of the matter.

Granted, the Joshua vs Wilder fight not happening this year was annoying and a bit of a disgrace to be honest but that said, what we do have on December 1st is one hell of a fight between Fury and Wilder.

A superb consolation prize for boxing fans.

Joshua for his part has promised to unify all the belts next year:

Unified the heavyweight division twice in 22 fights. Watch me become Undisputed Heavyweight Champion in 2019! Stay Hungry 🔥 pic.twitter.com/JTC99IfprO

— Anthony Joshua (@anthonyjoshua) November 21, 2018

If that’s the case and Fury was to beat Wilder, Joshua will have to take on Fury.

Either way, he knows he needs to face the winner of Wilder and Fury to do the above next year.