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Anthony Joshua produced a devastating early knockout of Francis Ngannou to send a shuddering message to the likes of rivals Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk in the heavyweight division.

After an initially confident start from Ngannou on only his second professional boxing outing after he shocked the world by flooring Fury in October before dropping a controversial decision, the former UFC heavyweight champion was sent to the canvas in the first round after a punishing right hand from Joshua in Friday night’s huge main event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

READ MORE :‘Extra special’ boxing event in the works for Wembley Stadium, but it won’t be Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua

The two-time former unified heavyweight champion then knocked down Ngannou again with another powerful right in the second round, his opponent – who had been showing flashes of intent and trying to hold the centre of the ring – just beating the referee’s count before quickly being knocked out cold by a brutal overhand right in one of the most destructive stoppages seen in recent times – more than living up the ‘Knockout Chaos’ moniker for the event.

Anthony Joshua puts Francis Ngannou to sleep for minutes with brutal  knockout | Marca

Ngannou was quickly attended to after such a damaging finish, receiving oxygen as he was helped onto a stool before thankfully getting to his feet and embracing Joshua, who again reiterated his desire to meet the winner of the undisputed showdown between reigning heavyweight champions Usyk and Fury, rescheduled for May 18 in Riyadh after a nasty cut sustained by Fury in sparring led to the postponement of their initial February date.

However, both Usyk – who has already beaten Joshua twice – and Fury have rematch clauses in their contracts, so it’ll be a while yet until a meeting with Joshua can happen for either man.

RELATED :‘Britain’s Mike Tyson’ sparred Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, one hit harder but the other is still better

Those rematch clauses also mean that the winner of the first Usyk-Fury fight will likely have to vacate the IBF title instead of facing mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic.

Anthony Joshua credibility hangs by a thread against Francis Ngannou

Joshua to face unbeaten Croatian contender Hrgovic for the IBF gold – the first world title Joshua ever won by knocking out American Charles Martin at London’s O2 Arena in 2016 – could feasibly be a possibility for the 2012 Olympic gold medalist later this year.

So much for words. So much for glitz and showmanship. Isaac “Pit Bull” Cruz is an anachronism, a throwback to the basic times of boxing, to the days of grainy black-and-white celluloid showing plodding guys who shuffled along in a seek-and-destroy mode.

That’s Cruz.

It certainly was Saturday night before 14,726 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on the Tim Tszyu-Sebastian Fundora co-feature on Premier Boxing Champions’ inaugural Amazon Prime event.

Cruz (26-2-1, 18 knockouts) stopped Rolando “Rolly” Romero at :56 of the eighth round, claiming his first major title, winning the WBA junior welterweight title.

“I’m very happy and humbled to win this title for my family and for Mexico,” Cruz said. “I was prepared for this. I wasn’t here to just fight. I was here to terminate him… I did my talking right here in the ring. And I did this not just for me but for everybody that is here at T-Mobile Arena. There’s going to be a Mexican champ at 140 pounds for a long time.

Isaac Cruz takes bite, belt from Rolando Romero - Our Esquina

“I feel great! Here were the fruits of four months of hard work reaping their rewards. This is priceless. It was just a matter of time, but damn if it doesn’t feel good to be a world champion.

“I fought with the intention to leave the decision out of the judges’ hands. Mission accomplished.”

Cruz actually won the fight in the first round. It was Rolly who was talking big, though he was the one who first registered fear.

Pit Bull came full of emotion. He swung wildly, looking to end the fight in the first minute. It took him about 90 seconds to fall into fight mode and calm down. That’s when he plowed Romero with a hammering left hook with just over a minute left in the round.

Romero (15-2, 13 KOs) was done from that point until the end of the fight. He fumbled around, trying to find his legs. But there were circuits in his head that were clearly disconnected. Rolly was fortunate to get out of the round on his feet.

Isaac "Pitbull" Cruz Dominates Rolly Romero to Claim WBA Super Lightweight  Title

That created the template that would follow, round after round. Romero went into survival gear while Cruz kept stalking, kept pouncing, trying to hit Romero anywhere and any way he could.

In the third, when Romero appeared to have his legs back, Cruz closed in on him again, walking through everything Romero threw.

As the final minute of the fourth approached, Cruz had Romero right in front of him, cornering him with thudding shots. Romero found a way to escape, but he knew he was in trouble.

As the fifth closed, Cruz smashed Romero with thudding shots to the head and the body. Romero ran away any time Cruz neared.

In the sixth, Cruz had to run after Romero again, connecting to the body, while Romero settled to throw one punch at a time rather than stand for any prolonged moment in front of Pit Bull.

By the seventh, Cruz had outlanded Romero 90-75. With 40 seconds left in the round, Cruz ripped Romero with a right uppercut, followed by a left hook, followed by a right.

Highlights and best moments: Rolando Romero vs Isaac Cruz in boxing 2024 |  03/31/2024 - VAVEL USA

Referee Tom Taylor looked at Rolly before the eighth, concerned he had little left to fend off Cruz. With 2:18 left in the eighth, Taylor stopped the action so Cruz could get tape reattached to his glove. Then Pit Bull slammed a left hook into Romero’s chin, followed by a right, left, and another punishing right before Taylor mercifully stepped in and ended it at :56 of the eighth.

Despite his dominance, Cruz did not impress everyone ringside. Judge Chris Flores somehow saw a different fight with Romero up, 66-65, at the time of the stoppage.

“I don’t have anything to say to Gervonta (Davis), really,” Cruz said. “He can do whatever he wants, but we silenced the doubters tonight. If he isn’t scared, let’s go for the rematch. Ryan Garcia can say whatever he wants. I’ll make him eat all the trash he talks, just like I did with Rolly.

Thirty-two highly skilled female gymnasts, including the esteemed seven-time Olympic medalist Simone Biles, are set to participate in the upcoming USA Gymnastics women’s national team camp. Scheduled from April 1st to 4th in Katy, Texas, this gathering holds significant importance as it provides a prime opportunity for refining abilities, nurturing team spirit, and strategizing for forthcoming athletic successes.

READ MORE :Weeks Before Joining Hands With Rival Simone Biles, Shilese Jones Heaped Praise On The Champion Gymnast

However, intrigue surrounds Biles’ involvement in this prestigious camp, given her assured berth for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Despite her selection for the April camp, speculation lingers regarding her attendance, primarily fueled by her absence from competitive matches this year, including the Winter Cup. As the season unfolds, the question persists: will Biles grace the camp with her presence, marking a significant stride toward her competitive season’s commencement?

Simone Biles withdraws from Olympic floor exercise final - The Japan Times

Up to 18 athletes will have the honor of representing the nation in two prestigious competitions: the 2024 Pacific Rim Championships from April 21st to 28th in Cali, Colombia, and the City of Jesolo Trophy on April 20th and 21st in Jesolo, Italy. However, uncertainty clouds the participation of Simone Biles, as her past performances raise doubts.

RELATED :“What Did I Do to Deserve This Man”: Simone Biles Overwhelmed by Husband Jonathan Owens’ Gesture

Looking at her journey, Simone Biles made her senior international debut at the 2013 American Cup, a FIG World Cup event, showcasing her remarkable talent. In the next year, she was supposed to perform Pacific Rim Championships, but an injury sidelined her at the start of the 2014 season. Then she returned with vigor in April 2016 at the Pacific Rim Championships. There, she clinched the all-around title and excelled on vault, floor exercise, and balance beam, contributing significantly to the U.S. team’s victory. Since then she hasn’t performed in the Pacific Rim Championships.

How to watch Simone Biles go for Olympic gold -- again

Throughout her illustrious career, Biles has encountered setbacks and triumphs, notably prioritizing her mental health in 2021, which led to her skipping the season Pacific Rim Championships. Despite this, she made a triumphant return at the 2023 U.S. Classic, clinching her record 8th U.S. all-around title. However, she continued showing her dominance in subsequent months as well.

Will Biles once again rock the global stage?

In October 2023, Simone Biles clinched her sixth individual world title in Antwerp, Belgium. Remarkably, she executed a Yurchenko double pike vault, an unprecedented achievement for a woman in competition. This feat earned her the distinction of having the fifth skill listed under her name in the International Gymnastics Federation’s Code of Points. These accomplishments serve as compelling indicators of her readiness for the Paris Olympics, marking her third consecutive appearance at the prestigious event.

Gymnastics-Simone Biles' unexpected Tokyo story | Reuters

This year, she skipped the Winter Cup since she had already secured her spot in the Championships as a current member of the U.S. National Team. Instead, she opted to enjoy a holiday with her husband, cherishing her married life at that time. With just a few months left until Paris 2024, she is yet to make her debut this season. However, lingering uncertainties surround her future involvement, underscoring the unpredictability of her journey. As spectators eagerly anticipate announcements, the question remains: will she grace the April meet with her presence or not?

LAS VEGAS – Errol Spence Jr.’s interest in fighting the winner of Saturday night’s Tim Tszyu-Sebastian Fundora WBO-WBC junior-middleweight title bout adds a curious wrinkle to where this was supposed to be headed.

Recently undisputed welterweight champion Terence Crawford, who vanquished then-three-belt-champion Spence by a cold-blooded knockout in July, previously petitioned the WBO to fight for the organization’s 154-pound belt within 180 days of Saturday.

READ MORE :Errol Spence Jr ‘Barely in the Country’, Stablemate Frank Martin Shares Big Fish’s Current Status Following Terence Crawford Loss

Given his position as a WBO “super” champion, Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) was given power by the organization to invoke such a request – one that Tszyu (24-0, 17 KOs) has seemed happy to embrace as he seeks to continue the momentum from what he hopes will be a convincing triumph over replacement-foe Fundora Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena.

Boxing news: Tim Tszyu next fight, Brian 'BoMac' McIntyre says Australian  would get stopped by Terence Crawford, Errol Spence Jr

On Friday’s episode of ProBox TV’s “Deep Waters,” Chris Algieri and Paulie Malignaggi

dissected the issue.

“I’ve got two fresh belts hanging on both sides of my shoulders and I’ve got some of the biggest names in the sport wanting to fight me … ,” Algieri said. “I’m sitting back and I’m waiting for these guys to take out their checkbooks. Who’s next?”

Algieri said it seems to him that Tszyu’s competitive vigor would lead him to accept the Crawford bout with delight.

But, Algieri added, “he should build up his star power more.”

And who gives him the better chance to do so?

Crawford, the sport’s pound-for-pound king and a two-handed power-punching machine who’s won belts in three weight classes?

Or Spence (28-1, 22 KOs), who while still a well-known name, is 34 and coming off the Crawford beating, cataract surgery and is apparently going to switch trainers?

Who wins Tim Tszyu vs. Terence Crawford? Talks have begun for Aussie to  face pound-for-pound star Bud | Sporting News United Kingdom

Perhaps the most significant factor is that while Crawford is now a promotional free agent after an attempted effort to make a Spence rematch crumbled, Spence is a Premier Boxing Champions loyalist who has been with powerful manager Al Haymon’s company since day one.

And PBC, of course, is handling Tszyu in America.

JUST IN :Boxing pundit explains exactly why Terence Crawford could fight Chris Eubank Jr as Canelo Alvarez fight looms

“I don’t know if [Crawford] is the best plan right away,” Algieri said for Tszyu. “The Spence fight makes a lot of sense for him, honestly. It’s an easier fight than Crawford. It’s one [more additional] step to introducing him to the global elite and the American eyes.”

Some industry insiders told BoxingScene Friday to expect Spence to emerge as Tszyu’s next foe should he win.

That wouldn’t, necessarily, crush Crawford’s quest.

Although there’s a three-division gap between Crawford and undisputed super-middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez, Crawford wants that fight fiercely and should favored Alvarez defeat Jaime Munguia on May 4, he may reconsider his options for a planned September bout and select Crawford.

Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr appear to be battling to fight the  same opponent next | Marca

Who’s more appetizing, pound-for-pound king Crawford or Edgar Berlanga?

As for Spence, Malignaggi questioned whether being dropped three times by Crawford before succumbing to a TKO in the ninth round, should lead Spence to go from that fire to a date with Tszyu, who’s nicknamed “The Soul Taker.”

RELATED ;“It’s Good”: Sebastian Fundora responds to Possible Errol Spence Jr and Terence Crawford Fight Saga

“Tszyu’s going to take you through that door again. Do you have the fire within you to respond?” asked Malignaggi, who admitted his question is based on his own career, when he suffered a fourth-round TKO loss fighting Shawn Porter for a world title in 2014, then returned against Danny Garcia and was stopped in the ninth round.

“Now, [Spence has had] that break, it settles in and all of a sudden, that door to hell opens again. You’re comfortable financially. You have a lot of mileage on you. Do you have what it takes to get into that room again? I don’t know. That’s the question if they make that fight.”

Spence previously confronted questions about his welfare when he returned from flipping his Porsche in a harrowing 2019 car crash and defeated Garcia, then Yordenis Ugas.

Is Crawford Better Served Fighting 154lb Champ Tim Tszyu Next?

“There’s too many question marks for Spence,” Malignaggi said. “He just got destroyed [by Crawford]. Is he the same after the car accident? Is he the same after the eye surgery?

“Are you going to bring him into a double world-title fight? Not to mention, you’re not [supposed] to be allowed to fight for a championship coming off a loss, let alone a one-sided knockout loss.”

UPDATE ;‘Big and bulky’ – Terence Crawford stuns fans with physique as he awaits winner of Tim Tszyu vs Sebastian Fundora

To that, Algieri pointed to Fundora’s appearance in Saturday’s bout knowing his most recent fight was an April knockout loss to Brian Mendoza.

“You’re acting like rules get upheld,” Algieri cracked. “This is boxing.”

A new undisputed champion in boxing is always welcome and the latest to breathe that rarified air is minimumweight queen Seniesa Estrada, who scord a 10-round unanimous decision over Yakosta Valle in Glendale, Arizona, on Friday.

Estrada (26-0, 9 KOs) has been fighting at world level for several years and also annexed a title at light flyweight in 2021. However, the Los Angeles star made her home at 105 pounds and has finally achieved her dream of consolidating all the belts.

READ MORE :GOAT lessons from Claressa Shields and Katie Taylor have Sandy Ryan primed for Terri Harper showdown

The champion moves up one spot to No. 4 switching places with former undisputed super lightweight titleholder Chantelle Cameron. Valle stays put at No. 7 due after putting on a solid performance in defeat.

Claressa Shields, AKA The GWOAT, still reigns supreme.

Claressa Shields challenges 'disrespectful' Savannah Marshall to fight her  in America | Boxing News | Sky Sports

The reigning undisputed middleweight champion also fully unified at super welterweight and once held a pair of titles at super middleweight. A native of Flint, Michigan, Shields has terrific technique, blazing hand speed and she’s bursting with energy and fighting heart.

UPDATE :Claressa Shields completes epic body transformation ahead of MMA comeback fight: ‘I conquered depression’

Signature wins have come against Savannah Marshall, Marie-Eve Dicaire and Christina Hammer.

The Mexican once again proves that he knows how to hit inside and outside the ring

In the world of professional boxing, few names resonate as powerfully as Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.

Known for his prowess within the ropes and his keen insights on the sport, Canelo recently weighed in on the highly publicized and somewhat controversial fight between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul, slated for July 20 at the AT&T Stadium. His verdict? More spectacle than sport.

READ MORE ;Mike Tyson quit on his stool in his last pro fight after trying to break journeyman opponent’s arm – will Jake Paul bout be sanctioned?

Canelo Alvarez, a multi-time Mexican champion and a revered figure in boxing, has made it clear that the upcoming bout between Tyson and Paul doesn’t pique his interest.

UFC Legend Speculates How Jake Paul Can Open Doors to a Fight Against Canelo  After Potentially Beating Mike Tyson

His reason? The event leans more towards entertainment than an authentic boxing match. “I’m not interested in watching it at all, with Netflix involved, yes, that’s good, but not in that kind of fight, I think it’s more show than fight,” Canelo articulated during an interview with YES Network.

His comments echo the sentiments of many in the boxing and MMA communities who view the fight as an untraditional matchup. Tyson, at 57, is a retired heavyweight champion known for his ferocity and historic achievements in boxing.

RELATED :‘Britain’s Mike Tyson’ sparred Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, one hit harder but the other is still better

Jake Paul, on the other hand, is a 27-year-old social media influencer turned professional boxer. This stark contrast in background and experience is a point of contention for purists of the sport.

While acknowledging that every event has its audience, Canelo firmly believes that traditional boxing fans will not be the ones tuning in on July 20. “Everybody has an audience, this is a different audience.

World Champion Canelo Alvarez Avoids Controversy, Stays Tight-Lipped on  Infamous Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson Fight - The SportsRush

Boxing fans are not going to see that (Tyson vs Paul fight), it’s for a different audience,” he added, delineating the divide between conventional boxing enthusiasts and the likely viewership of this match.

Jake Paul has marketed the fight as “the biggest fight the world will ever see,” a claim that has been met with skepticism by many, including Canelo.

UPDATE ;The top 10 most watched boxing events in history with Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul set to break records

Despite the buzz it has generated, the consensus among seasoned fighters is that the event will not contribute significantly to the legacy or advancement of boxing.

After Floyd Mayweather agreed to fight Logan Paul on June 6, 2021, at the Hard Rock Stadium, ‘The Maverick’ took to X and declared his mother was “terrified.” However, besides being 19 years younger than Mayweather, Paul had a six-inch reach advantage against ‘TBE’. But, while Mayweather had 50 pro wins, Paul had only two matches against fellow influencer KSI. Hence, when the duo stepped inside the ring, Mayweather out-landed Paul by 27.3%. But, in a recent interview, Paul claimed Mayweather was “beatable“! However, when Paul was asked to replace a fighter Mayweather was going to face on top of the Burj Al Arab in Dubai on six weeks’ notice, ‘The Maverick’ also rejected the offer. Now, in light of this incident, Logan Paul revealed why he agreed to fight Mayweather in 2021. Here is what he said.

Floyd Mayweather vs. Logan Paul: Round-by-round coverage

Although no winner was announced, ESPN had scored Logan Paul vs. Floyd Mayweather 78-74 for ‘TBE’. Meanwhile, after the match, Logan Paul claimed that Mayweather had not paid him for the contest. Therefore, although Paul stated he could beat the 50-0 boxer in a rematch, he felt he had a “bigger fish to fry“. Anyway, speaking to Graham Bensinger, Paul said “respect” motivated the WWE wrestler to agree to a boxing match against the boxer who held 15 major world championships.

Andy Ruiz’s monumental upset win over Anthony Joshua will forever hold a place in boxing history.

Ruiz was a relative unknown in the boxing world, until he was thrust into the biggest opportunity of his life as a short-notice replacement for Jarrell Miller in a unified heavyweight world title clash against Anthony Joshua in June 2019 on AJ’s US debut.

The Mexican came in as an overwhelming underdog given little hope in the fight, but caused one of the biggest upsets in boxing history by dropping Joshua four times en route to a famous win in New York’s iconic Madison Square Garden.

READ MORE ;JOSH IN TIME Anthony Joshua in line for world title fight BEFORE facing winner of Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk

It was a monumental achievement which was regularly compared to Buster Douglas’ phenomenal upset of Mike Tyson, and it was masterminded alongside trainer at the time Manny Robles.

Anthony Joshua vs Andy Ruiz Jr: preview, how to watch, Eddie Hearn

In an exclusive interview with talkSPORT.com, Robles, who will work as a coach in the upcoming Team Combat League, has opened up about exactly how he believed five years ago that they could rewrite history inside the ‘Mecca of Boxing’, due to the perfect timing of the call.

He said: “It wasn’t really at short notice, what people don’t know is we were just coming off of a fight with Alexander Dimitrenko in LA.

“So we went through a full camp, and a week later we had the fight with Anthony Joshua.

“So we got back into the ring and the timing was perfect.

“We fought someone who was very similar to Joshua, a week later we then got the call for the huge fight against Joshua.

“So we had like a month in camp, but the hard work was already done as Dmitrenko was very similar to Joshua, a big strong and solid guy.

Anthony Joshua Defeats Andy Ruiz Jr. Via Decision in Heavyweight Title  Rematch | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors | Bleacher Report

“The timing couldn’t have been more perfect, and we were able to win the heavyweight championships of the world.

Seismic shockwaves travelled through the boxing world, after Ruiz was left bouncing around the ring in a famous celebration after defying all odds.

RELATED ;Date named for potential Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua mega-fight as AJ drops cryptic post over next opponent

Joshua was clearly not at his best, but the Mexican had shown defiance and a serious boxing skillset while carrying out a turgid game plan to capitalise on AJ’s weaknesses on the night.

Despite the defeat, the Briton was seriously gracious to Ruiz and his attitude helped earn him an immediate shot at redemption just several months later.

Anthony Joshua Takes Back Heavyweight Crown from Andy Ruiz - The New York  Times

“People don’t know this, but to this day after that night I look up to Anthony Joshua,” he continued.

“He is a role model to people around the world, athletes and people in general. He is someone that kids should inspire to be like.

“He is such a gentleman outside of the ring, he is so humble. Even in defeat, he is humble enough to keep his head up.

Ruiz was unable to keep hold of the titles, having admitted he got carried away with celebrations and did not prepare adequately for the rematch in February 2020, which the Briton won on points.

Fight Picks: Andy Ruiz vs. Anthony Joshua 2 - The Ring

Robles has since split with Ruiz, and the pair have not spoken for several years since pulling off the remarkable feat as a seemingly unbreakable team.

UPDATE ;How Anthony Joshua dispatched Francis Ngannou with destructive second-round knockout victory

Since this day, AJ has suffered two more defeats to Oleksandr Usyk but has again responded putting together a neat win streak under new coach Ben Davison.

Anthony Joshua’s next fight looks set to be against Tyson Fury, according to Eddie Hearn, so long as the Gypsy King can beat Oleksandr Usyk on May, 18.

Following Joshua’s destructive knockout of Francis Ngannou, all eyes are now on a potential fight against Fury. Here is everything you need to know about who AJ could be fighting next.

Who is Anthony Joshua fighting next?

Joshua looks set to finally fight Fury, so long as the Gypsy King can beat Usyk on May, 18.

READ MORE ;EXCLUSIVE : Anthony Joshua Cheers Patricia Mbata for Winning Gold at All Africa Games in Ghana

Fury and Usyk go head-to-head at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with the winner seemingly next in line to face Joshua.

Eddie Hearn believes Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury 'taking priority' over  AJ-Kubrat Pulev fight is 'possible' | DAZN News US

Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, has pleaded with Fury to beat the Ukrainian to set up “the biggest fight in the history of the sport“.

When was Anthony Joshua’s last fight?

Joshua beat Ngannou with a devastating knockout blow in the second round during their fight on March, 9.

After knocking his opponent down in the first round, AJ got the job done minutes later with a right-hand that left Ngannou out cold on the canvas.

Anthony Joshua boxing record

Joshua’s boxing record stands at 28 wins and three losses, with 25 knockouts along the way.

RELATED ;Eddie Hearn blasts Francis Ngannou BAFFLING excuse for losing to Anthony Joshua as he insists the ex-UFC fighter should know better

Only Andy Ruiz Jr and Usyk (twice) have got the better of the 34-year-old. Joshua has beaten the likes of Wladimir Klitschko, Joseph Parker and Alexander Povetkin on his way to the top of the sport.

Eddie Hearn leaves the door open for Battle of Britain between Anthony  Joshua and Tyson Fury | Daily Mail Online

What has Eddie Hearn said about a fight against Tyson Fury?

Hearn has made no secret of his desire for Joshua to fight Fury, with the promoter desperate for the pair to meet in the ring.

“There is a brilliant fighter down there called Tyson fury,” Hearn said after the Joshua’s victory over Ngannou.

UPDATE ;‘Extra special’ boxing event in the works for Wembley Stadium, but it won’t be Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua

“Please, please beat Oleksandr Usyk on May, 18. I promise you this, you will get the biggest fight in the history of the sport when Anthony Joshua takes the undisputed world championship.”

Anthony Joshua, the former two-time unified heavyweight champion, has hinted at his upcoming bout with rumors that it would happen even sooner than expected.

Though there were first hopes for a longer break, Joshua, whose career has taken off over the last year, is ready to return to the ring.

READ MORE ;JOSH IN TIME Anthony Joshua in line for world title fight BEFORE facing winner of Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk

After a turbulent 2021 and 2022 in which he lost his belts to the unbeaten Oleksandr Usyk and then was unable to win them back in a rematch, Joshua has painstakingly returned to his previous level of performance.

Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou is a done deal for 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi  Arabia | Marca

Many had assumed that Joshua would wait to comment on the results of the May 18 fight between Tyson Fury and Usyk, or that he may face Fillip Hrgovic for the IBF title after that. However, the British boxer has thrown a curveball by agreeing to take on an opponent who has not yet been revealed.

UPDATE ;Date named for potential Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua mega-fight as AJ drops cryptic post over next opponent

Joshua hinted that he would soon be back in the ring in his Instagram Story.

Anthony Joshua demolishes Francis Ngannou in two rounds in Riyadh | World  News | Sky News

The British celebrity is seen in the picture talking on the phone and captioning the image with the exchange.

There is a lot of conjecture surrounding Joshua’s opponent as he gets ready for his next fight possibly against Joseph Parker.

RELATED ;Eddie Hearn blasts Francis Ngannou BAFFLING excuse for losing to Anthony Joshua as he insists the ex-UFC fighter should know better

Filip Hrgovic will fight Daniel Dubois, while Deontay Wilder will fight Zhang Zhilei.