Anthony Joshua woke Arslanbek Makhmudov up before even getting the chance to put him to sleep. The Russian giant had been dreaming of a fight against Joshua. They say money can buy anything. In this case, it’s true for AJ.
Makhmudov must have gone through a long week after Monday’s announcement. Not only will the British heavyweight not be his next opponent, he’s fighting Jake Paul. Talk about a slap in the face!
Just a few weeks ago, the Montrealer by adoption spoke to the media before his fight against Dave Allen. It seemed that there was an agreement between him and Joshua. Makhmudov only had to win on hostile territory and he’d get the fight he’d been hoping for — which he did.
Money over pride
So why did Anthony Joshua sign up for a circus act instead of fighting a real heavyweight? It seems money can make any athlete lose all common sense. He’s not the first to go down that path.
That being said, if everything goes as planned, Anthony Joshua shouldn’t have any trouble sending Jake Paul to dreamland in under three rounds. Of course, emphasis must be placed on “if everything goes as planned.”
That would reopen the door for Makhmudov once again, wouldn’t it?
Yes and no. AJ has earned immeasurable purses against Usyk, and we can imagine he won’t head to the Kaseya Center on December 19 in exchange for a new pair of gloves and a pat on the back. Often, after this type of fight, athletes lose their desire to compete. It’s up to Joshua to prove otherwise.
Photo: Anthony Joshua
But even if Joshua decides to take his career seriously again, that doesn’t guarantee a fight with Makhmudov. Now that the Brit has become the celebrity he is, the entire heavyweight division will rush toward him. Why would he choose to fight big Makh?
Pros and cons
The English are passionate boxing fans. Nothing against Dave Allen, but it’s hard to believe that guy is a fan favorite in the United Kingdom. Makhmudov has never been a very technical boxer, and he managed to beat him by unanimous decision on his home turf. If you know boxing, you know that’s not easy to do — especially in the UK.
All things considered, Arslanbek made himself known to the European public. It’s not crazy to think the English would want to see AJ avenge Allen. And it’s not crazy to believe AJ would be interested if the purse is right.
On the other hand, why would Joshua risk fighting a Russian with such devastating punching power? Even though he’d be a heavy favorite, he’d also risk getting dropped by a boxer with two losses on his record.
Back to the drawing board
The Lion can keep dreaming, because as they say: nothing is impossible. Still, there are plenty of other interesting fights for him in the heavyweight division.
We’ll throw the idea out there, but it would be surprising if no one wanted to see a fight between Makhmudov and Alexis Barrière. After the Quebecer’s recent loss, both fighters find themselves in similar situations. It would allow one of them to propel himself onto the international scene while offering Quebec fans a local matchup. Just one idea among many.
Photo: Arslanbek Makhmudov
In short, it’s not impossible for Makhmudov to get his shot against Anthony Joshua, but even if he doesn’t, it’s not the end of the world. One thing is certain: when he steps back into the ring, all eyes will be on the Russian giant.
