Analysing the Potential Opponents to Fight Anthony Joshua on November 26
Remember, remember the date in November.
As well as the fireworks on Guy Fawkes/Bonfire Night at the start of the month, boxing fans can now get excited about seeing sparks fly on November 26, too.
That is the day when heavyweight Anthony Joshua will make the second defence of his IBF title.
Working for the BBC at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Joshua revealed the date of his next outing. His promoter, Eddie Hearn, confirmed the news to Sky Sports (h/t Lyall Thomas of SkySports.com), adding: "The opponent and venue will be confirmed in the next few weeks."
However, no opponent was named. There wasn't even a clue about the location. You big tease, Eddie.
Having turned pro after winning a gold medal at the 2012 Olympics in London, Joshua spent the early part of his career travelling around Britain and knocking out journeymen.
His last five outings have all been at the O2 Arena in London, but he's now set to fight outside of the English capital for the first time since May 2015.
But who will he face next?
Hearn told George Gigney of Boxing News at the start of August that three names were in the frame: Joseph Parker, Kubrat Pulev and Bermane Stiverne.
Here, Bleacher Report has looked at that trio, as well as offer up a pair of alternatives, in line for a shot at the unbeaten champion.
Joseph Parker
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Joseph Parker is the mandatory challenger for the IBF title.
The unbeaten New Zealander (20-0, 17 KOs) maintained his position at the head of the queue with a points victory over Carlos Takam in May.
With the victory, the 24-year-old demonstrated he has the stamina—and stomach—for a proper fight.
In his SkySports.com report, Tim Hobbs wrote: "Parker was an emotional and exhausted winner after starting off on top, seemingly struggling through the middle rounds yet finding an extra gear down the stretch to suggest he now belongs at world-level."
IBF chairman Lindsey Tucker told Phil D. Jay of World Boxing News that the governing body will order negotiations for Joshua-Parker to start on November 9. The two camps have 30 days to reach an agreement.
The easiest option would be for the pair to meet on November 26.
However, Parker is already booked to face Alexander Dimitrenko—a 6'7" German-based Russian who has lost just twice in 40 pro fights—on October 1.
It looks nothing more than a tick-over fight for Parker, offering him another chance to get some rounds under his belt before a world-title tilt.
When that opportunity comes, however, remains unclear.
Joshua and Parker will surely lock horns at some stage in their careers, but the duel between the division's two bright young things looks more likely to happen in 2017.
Kubrat Pulev
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Kubrat Pulev appears to be an ideal opponent for Joshua.
The Cobra (23-1, 12 KOs) has only lost once in his pro career—he was knocked out by Wladimir Klitschko in 2014. However, since that setback, he's won three on the spin.
His most recent victory came against Englishman Dereck Chisora. Pulev ended up winning by a split decision on the scorecards in May, picking up the vacant European title in the process.
The verdict didn't really do his dominance justice, as Nick Parkinson of ESPN.co.uk pointed out: "When Chisora raised his hands at the end of 12 rounds, Pulev just laughed. That one judge saw the fight in Chisora's favour was also a joke."
Pulev has a decent reputation in the division. He also has a solid jab that can be difficult for opponents to cope with.
However, does he really have enough about him to bother Joshua?
It is tough to forget how Klitschko knocked the Bulgarian down four times in total. Pulev's fourth and final trip to the canvas resulted in him being counted out while flat on his back.
Per BoxRec, the beaten fighter had the audacity to say in the aftermath: "Wladimir is a really good opponent, but he was lucky. I want a rematch. I'll win the next time."
The 35-year-old struggled to cope with Klitschko's power—it could be an extremely painful night against the big-punching Joshua.
Bermane Stiverne
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Bermane Stiverne (25-2-1, 21 KOs) has built his reputation off the back of a defeat.
The Haiti-born heavyweight is best known for losing to Deontay Wilder in January 2015. However, he is still the only man to take the reigning WBC champion the distance.
Stiverne lost by a landslide on the scorecards, yet he gave it everything.
Per Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports, the loser even had to be taken to the hospital after the bout due to severe dehydration.
With Wilder a long-term target, Joshua could lay down a marker by stopping Stiverne, who has only fought once—beating Derric Rossy on points in a 10-rounder—since his failed world-title bid.
However, the WBC have offered Stiverne an alternative route to a major belt.
As Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times confirmed on Twitter, the 37-year-old has the chance to fight Alexander Povetkin.
The winner will be crowned the governing body's interim champion, with the reward a shot against Wilder—who is sidelined through injury right now—once the American is fit to return to the ring.
Of course, Stiverne could still be tempted to skip one step ahead of the process and challenge the IBF champion before the end of the year.
If that is the case, it makes sense for Joshua to travel to the United States for the fight.
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The Alternative Options
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If Parker is unavailable, Pulev doesn't appeal or Stiverne is set to go in a different direction, there are two domestic rivals Joshua and his team could consider instead.
David Haye is waiting in the wings for an opportunity to take on one of the leading heavyweights.
The former world champion has so far made a low-key comeback to the ring, defeating journeymen (and that description is extremely kind) Mark de Mori and Arnold Gjergjaj.
However, promoter Hearn told the Mirror's David Anderson in May: "If you want the truth, Haye is not on our radar. We’ve got no plans to fight David Haye in 2016."
Plans change, though. The Hayemaker appeared set to face American Shannon Briggs next, but there is yet to be any official announcement about the bout.
David Price, meanwhile, created interest in a clash with Joshua by claiming he once knocked out the reigning IBF champion during a sparring session in 2011.
The Liverpudlian told Sky Sports (h/t Richard Damerell of SkySports.com): "It is possible that Anthony Joshua can be hurt and can be beaten. What I'm talking about happened a long time ago, but it's still the two same people."
As Price went on to add, there was high interest in Joshua's clash with Dillian Whyte off the back of a meeting during their amateur days. The same could happen again with another all-English showdown.
A bout against either Haye or Price would definitely appeal to a British audience, more so than Joshua facing Pulev or Stiverne.
Who would you like to see Joshua go up against on November 26? Have your say in the comments section.
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