Deontay Wilder has chosen not to engage any further with Anthony Joshua and his team anytime soon to the detriment of the heavyweight division.
‘The Bronze Bomber’ has instead confirmed two fights. Both will represent a repeat of the American’s calendar for last year.
Wilder will battle Luis Ortiz in September, as he did in March 2018, before facing Tyson Fury in February 2020, as he did in December of that same annum.
Boxing fans will have two rematches to look forward to as Wilder prepares to defend his WBC title for the tenth and eleventh time.
But what now for Joshua?
The Briton takes on late replacement Andy Ruiz Jr. on Saturday night. ‘AJ’ will then have to pick the bones out of the rest of the field.
Fury will certainly not be available to Joshua this fall as his deal with ESPN continues with two more also-ran opponents.
Joshua has mandatories due with two organizations, which by all means should be the first port of call.
Kubrat Pulev is likely to be in the opposite corner when Joshua returns to the ring in October or November.
Follow that up with a voluntary in March or April and a second outing with Dillian Whyte has ample time to get over the line.
Oleksandr Usyk should be ready for his stipulated WBO shot by the summer of 2020 as Wilder and Fury continue their saga into a trilogy.
Joseph Parker, recently signed to Matchroom, may well have worked himself into position for a second bite of the Joshua cherry by then.
Joshua v Parker II could happen in late 2020 before any window opens up for a massive undisputed unification.
By 2021, the WBA will have a firm number one contender in place. Mahmoud Charr, Trevor Bryan and Joe Joyce are all in contention.
ANTHONY JOSHUA TWO-YEAR CALENDAR
2019
Andy Ruiz
Kubrat Pulev
2020
Dillian Whyte II
Oleksandr Usyk
Joseph Parker II
2021
WBA mandatory
Wilder or Fury?
