Anthony Joshua’s professional boxing career is in limbo after he lost his heavyweight title rematch against Oleksandr Usyk.
The Nigeria born British boxer was beaten via split decision in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night, to leave his record at 24-3. With Usyk eyeing an undisputed title bout with Tyson Fury, Joshua’s chances of a trilogy bout appear slim at present and he must look elsewhere for his next potential opponent.
With that in mind, here is a run down of six options that Joshua now has following his loss to Usyk, including retirement and a bout against fellow former champion Deontay Wilder.
Despite launching into a rambling and bizarre rant following his loss on Saturday, Joshua fell short of announcing his retirement from boxing.
However, having now lost three times as a professional, it remains possible that his second loss to Usyk could prove to be the final bout of his career.
Joshua has fought 27 times in the last nine years, having turned professional in 2013, one year after winning Olympic gold. His three losses have also come in his last five fights.
The Bronze Bomber has been away from the ring since completing his trilogy with Fury, which ended with Wilder being knocked out in the 11th round.
Wilder is due to return in October against Robert Helenius in Brooklyn, potentially leaving the door open to a meeting with Joshua next summer.
However, the American is also understood to have “first refusal” on a WBC heavyweight title fight if Fury chooses not to come out of retirement.
Similarly to Joshua, Dillian Whyte is currently coming off of a loss in a world title fight, following his sixth round technical knockout loss to Fury in April.
He and Joshua have fought once before, meeting for the British and Commonwealth titles at the O2 Arena in December 2015.
On that occasion, Joshua won via a seventh round TKO, before Whyte went on a stunning 11-fight winning streak before losing to Alexander Povetkin in 2020.
A rematch would give Whyte the chance to avenge the first professional loss of his career, an opportunity he has already taken by beating Povetkin in their rematch.
Derek Chisora is also a potential British opponent for Joshua, despite a fight with Fury being teased in recent weeks.
The Gypsy King has been vocal on social media in his attempts to secure a comeback fight against Chisora and has even claimed the 38-year-old demanded £3million to fight him.
Fresh from beating Kubrat Pulev last month, Chisora remains towards the summit of the heavyweight division, as does Joshua despite his back to back defeats. Joshua also remains one of few elite heavyweights Chisora has not faced in his career.
Although it is a longshot, Joshua has unfinished business with Jarrell Miller after their previously scheduled fight in 2019 was cancelled after Miller failed a drugs test.
Miller was replaced in the bout by Andy Ruiz Jr on just one month’s notice, with Joshua succumbing to a shock defeat at Madison Square Garden.
Since his cancelled fight against Joshua, Miller has fought just twice, returning for two bouts a month apart earlier this year, but remains unbeaten as a professional at 24-0-1.
British boxing fans have long-called for a super fight between Fury and Joshua, with the pair both holding titles in recent years.
The match-up appeared unlikely following Fury’s retirement in April, but he has since teased the possibility of returning to the ring once again.
During Saturday’s bout, Fury even claimed he would beat both Joshua and Usyk in the same night if given the chance. Joshua could be handed the chance to reclaim his titles in the future if Fury fights and beats Usyk in the neat future.
