Carlos Takam stands in the way of Anthony Joshua in Cardiff on Saturday might; despite his chances being widely dismissed. However, what the Cameroonian-French fighter may lack in finesse and tactical nous, he compensates for with his honesty.
Joshua should well win, but Takam won’t make it easy for the owner of the IBO, WBA and IBF titles. However a victory for Takam, for all the endeavor and courage he will bring, does appear a step too far.
So in the event of a victory in Wales, what and more importantly, who, is next for Joshua?
Dillian Whyte
Joshua had hoped that in the aftermath of Kubrat Pulev pulling out of Saturday night’s fight at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff that a rematch with Dillian Whyte was on the cards. When Whyte and Joshua met in December 2015, Whyte pushed Joshua more than anyone up to that point of his career.
Whyte would have yearned for the opportunity to atone for his seventh round defeat in the O2, when a right hand to the side of Whyte’s head saw him falter and lose composure, before Joshua finished him off at the ropes.
But there was no question that Joshua was pushed that night; visibly spent of energy at the end of the fight despite standing tall, Whyte will have felt he didn’t do himself justice. And Joshua’s words after Pulev’s injury this week, indicates he feels there is unfinished business.
“Whyte’s the first person I asked to fight in Cardiff because the two people who brought the best out of me entertainment-wise were Dillian Whyte and Wladimir Klitschko.”
David Haye
David Haye has some business of his own to take care of before he can consider himself and Joshua facing off. When he lost to Tony Bellew in March, an Achilles injury he suffered early on in what was a remarkable fight, did nothing to help an 11th round stoppage.
He will have the opportunity in December to put things right when he faces Bellew again in the O2 in London. Bellew will be understandably confident though, despite his underdog status in the first fight and suffering an injury of his own. A victory for Haye is far from guaranteed.
If he does however, manage to overcome Bellew, he sees a meeting with Joshua as something the public want.
Talking up the possibility, Bellew said last month “I believe I can work my way up the rankings and get the right fight with the right guys. In an ideal world, No 1 in my eyes is Anthony Joshua. Joshua has some business to take care of with Pulev (now Takam) but then next year, in an ideal world, I'll fight Anthony Joshua.”
The key though, is overcoming Bellew and then seeing if the appetite for a meeting with Joshua is as evident as Haye believes.
Kubrat Pulev
When the Bulgarian pulled a muscle in his shoulder, he saw a seven-figure payday slip from his grasp. If Joshua does dismiss Takam with the comfort he is being expected to, Pulev will be hoping for a chance to make up for a missed opportunity.
Pulev was a genuine, potential stumbling block for Joshua. He may have had none of the glamour of Haye or Whyte; but Pulev can take punishment and give it back with interest. Pulev in the past was known to be a bit blasé with his gloves down approach, opening himself up so he can find openings in return.
But he has tightened things up defensively and added nuances to his approach and can still deliver with real power. He will have worked hard on exploiting defensive frailties in Joshua’s game before pulling out; and the fact is there are vulnerabilities there. If given the chance, his power could hinder Joshua if the pair were to meet.
Tyson Fury
Undefeated, Tyson Fury, however, hasn’t fought since his unanimous decision victory over Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015. A litany of issues have kept Fury out of the ring, and a pending anti-doping hearing is curtailing his return at present.
However, if Fury gets his house in order and can return to full fight fitness and is conditioned correctly; this is a fight the British public and the boxing public in general, would savor.
Fury has said he will be back in the ring by April 2018 and hopes to fight three times next year. However there would be understandable reluctance as to viewing that as a certainty; Fury will have to prove it, simply by doing.
On October 12th Fury tweeted that he would be ready to fight next April 2018, ahead of a summer mega fight and one more at the end of the year. Joshua responded that he is prepared to get “down and dirty” with Fury. Not quite attritional fighting talk, but certainly a signal of intent.
