Anthony Joshua Names Murat Gassiev as His Next Opponent If He Defeats Tyson Fury

Anthony Joshua Sets Sights on Murat Gassiev After Tyson Fury Clash

Anthony Joshua has made it clear who he plans to fight next if he comes out victorious against Tyson Fury this December.

The long-awaited showdown between Joshua and Fury, often described as the biggest bout in British boxing history, is scheduled for December 11th at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Attempts over the past ten years to bring this fight to a live arena have failed, but the two fighters are finally set to collide in Wales.

Potential World Title at Stake

Besides settling their rivalry, this fight could be historic for another reason. The WBA 'Super' heavyweight championship is likely to be contested, possibly marking the first time the 'Super' belt is fought for by two boxers who currently do not hold world titles.

Amid the hype, Russian heavyweight Murat Gassiev might be feeling uneasy. He was awarded the WBA 'Regular' heavyweight title after Oleksandr Usyk vacated all his world heavyweight belts in June and successfully defended it in July against Peter Kadiru.

Gassiev’s team has formally objected to the idea of the Fury vs Joshua fight being for the Super title. John Wirt, Gassiev’s co-promoter and legal advisor, demanded the WBA deny reports of the fight being for the world title, insisting that Gassiev deserves recognition as the sole WBA world heavyweight champion.

"If anyone should be fighting for the WBA Super heavyweight title, it is Murat Gassiev, the reigning champion, not two boxers who currently hold no world title between them," Wirt stated.

Joshua’s Next Step: Facing Gassiev

After the press conference launching the Fury fight, Joshua told talkSPORT who he wants next should he beat Fury. When asked directly, he answered simply: "Murat Gassiev." This aligns with WBA rules requiring the 'Super' champion to defend the title against the 'Regular' champion.

In recent boxing trends, fighters sometimes vacate titles to avoid mandatory defenses they find less appealing. Gassiev, however, is not a big name in terms of marketability, and a fight against him would not bring Joshua anywhere near the payday expected from facing Fury.

Despite this, Joshua appears ready to respect the obligation and face Gassiev if he wins the December bout, a move that will surely please Gassiev's camp.