Anthony Joshua is anticipated to return to motion in February or March following his knockout of Jake Paul, and the two-time world champion has been linked to a stunning title in Rico Verhoeven – a left-field decide unknown to many boxing followers.
Joshua’s subsequent outing will reportedly tee up the long-awaited showdown with Tyson Fury and in consequence, it’s comprehensible that ‘AJ’ and Eddie Hearn could goal a low-risk dance associate as to not put a profitable scrap with ‘The Gypsy King’ in danger.
After taking up a YouTuber-turned-boxer this month, Hearn was quizzed on the out of the blue prospect of Joshua going through Dutch kickboxer Verhoeven quite than a recognised heavyweight contender – a plan which he didn’t dismiss.
“In a super world, that [February] could be the time. We’re going to see when he’s prepared. Rico – or whoever it’s – we haven’t finalised that but.”
Hearn has since mentioned that March seems to be extra probably, and in addition identified that ‘AJ’ would fortunately go straight right into a Fury combat in summer season if that may be negotiated.
If the Verhoeven route is the way in which they go, it might imply that none of Joshua’s final three victories would have come in opposition to a longtime boxer heading right into a combat with Fury.
Nonetheless, while Verhoeven is unfamiliar to the boxing world, he’s identified to Fury, having been a sparring associate and good buddy of the two-time heavyweight champion since 2015 and a mainstay within the camps of Fury’s cousin, Hughie Fury.
Verhoeven is recognised as one of many best kickboxers of all time, boasting a document of 66-10 and holding the GLORY (kickboxing’s primary promotional agency) heavyweight title for an astonishing 4,220 days.
‘The King of Kickboxing’ vacated that belt final month, calling time on his legendary reign after 13 profitable title defences and curiously stating “it’s not a goodbye, it’s an till we meet once more,” probably suggesting he’ll return to the franchise post-AJ.
Alternatively, Verhoeven has been linked to a transfer to the UFC, as he seeks to change into a world famous person in both the squared circle or The Octagon, with the Joshua deal prone to decide which of these choices the 36-year-old pursues.
