ANTHONY JOSHUA is in talks to fight a former Olympic gold medalist next, says a former world champion.
AJ, 35, has been out of the ring since September when he was knocked out by Daniel Dubois at Wembley.
ReutersAnthony Joshua could fight a former Olympic gold medalist next[/caption]
He had elbow surgery earlier in the summer and looks set for a comeback fight before the year is over.
And ex-European bantamweight champ Spencer Oliver told talkSPORT that 2016 Olympic gold medallist Tony Yoka is an opponent in talks to face Joshua – who won at London 2012 – next.
Oliver said: “Do I think they are going to fight? I think that it is a great possibility. We get two Olympic gold medallists going at it.
“Tony Yoka is trying to rekindle his career after losing to the likes of Carlos Takam. He has won his last three now; he last boxed in June.
“He is very much in the rebuilding process, as is Anthony Joshua. Doesn’t it make sense? Two Olympic gold medallists, there is history there.
“It will be a great fight, it is a sellable fight, I would love to see it.”
Yoka, 33, beat Team GB’s Joe Joyce in their super-heavyweight final in Rio nine years ago in what was deemed a hugely controversial decision.
The Frenchman turned professional in 2017 but has failed to hit the same heights, losing three times in a row with his record at 17-3.
Times Newspapers LtdJoe Yoyce lost to Tony Yoka in the 2016 Olympic super-heavyweight final[/caption]
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He was also suspended for one year in 2018 after missing three drugs tests within a 12-month period.
His last win came in May against Arslan Yallyev on points over ten rounds.
Yoka bounced back from his spate of losses in 2024 by beating Amine Boucetta at Tolworth Recreation Centre – which is also an indoor football pitch.
Joshua, meanwhile, has been in Mykonos on holiday while being linked with a shock fight against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.
But Turki Alalshkih wants AJ to fight Tyson Fury – who is set to return next year after retiring in the wake of two losses to Oleksandr Usyk.
The Saudi boxing boss told The Boxing Voice: “Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury next year, we are trying to do it and we are thinking about it.
“I need to have for each one tune-up fight first. Why? Because they are both coming off losses. It’s to build it up.”
@turkialalshikTyson Fury with Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
