Simon Jordan is now taking a more favourable view about the future of Anthony Joshua’s boxing career.
Following AJ’s impressive win over Otto Wallin in December, and Deontay Wilder’s defeat to Joseph Parker on the same card, the talkSPORT host believes a pathway has been cleared for the Brit to become a three-time heavyweight world champion.
Speaking on the talkBOXING podcast after confirmation AJ vs Francis Ngannou is signed for March 8, Jordan began: “Joshua dealt with Otto Wallin.
“But what we haven’t learned about this ‘Joshua 2.0’ is whether he can take a shot and come back from it in the way he had to against Wladimir Klitschko.
“That’s the overriding question.”
At this point Oliver asked directly if Jordan believes AJ will win a heavyweight world title again and he replied: “Yes. I think the pathway’s been cleared for him.
“Does he win a world title against Tyson Fury? I’m not sure. I don’t think so.”
Oliver interjected: “But it’s a closer fight than you originally thought?”
And Jordan agreed: “Only because of what we’ve seen from Fury in his recent fight [vs Ngannou].
“And we’ve seen people suggesting the reason why he’s meeting people in the middle of the ring is because he can’t move about anymore.
“The Fury we’ve seen against Dillian Whyte and Deontay Wilder – that Fury beats Joshua.
“The Fury we’ve got now may not do it, but I still think he does.
“But I go on with your question of, ‘Do I think he [Joshua] wins a world title?’
“Does he win a world title against Oleksandr Usyk? I think Usyk does him again.
“Now, because a pathway’s been cleared, does he win a world title against Filip Hrgovic – who I think is a strong fighter but not a real risk for Joshua compared to what Fury and Usyk are – yes I now do because the landscape has changed…
“Hrgovic lost to Zhilei Zhang and got the result, and wasn’t particularly impressive against Demsey McKean.
“And in his most recent fight against Mark De Mori, well f*** off, it wasn’t a fight for him, was it?
“I think Hrgovic is a decent fighter, but there’s levels in this game and Joshua is on a different level to Hrgovic.”
