Promoter Eddie Hearn says there’s a new opponent in the running to face Anthony Joshua following lengthy talks for a Deontay Wilder fight.

After an offer to stage the fight in Saudi Arabia was taken off the table, Hearn has remained adamant that the team behind Joshua are still doing all they can to make the match-up against the hard-hitting American heavyweight.

Having said that, another fight signed for Saudi may have changed things.

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk recently announced that they will be putting their belts on the line in an undisputed event that could take place as early as December 23.

With that news, the IBF has ruled that the winner must immediately face its mandatory challenger, Filip Hrgovic. Because of the reports of a rematch clause for the loser in the Fury-Usyk bout, a fight against the Croatian is unlikely to take place.

In that case, the belt will become vacant and Hrgovic will fight the next top contender for it – currently Joshua at number three. Hearn told Boxing Social that it ‘changes things’ for his charge.

Asked to weigh up the benefits of each potential match-up, the promoter seemed to lean towards Hrgovic despite it being a lesser spectacle.

Otto Wallin recently beat Murat Gassiev in an eliminator for the IBF’s top spot behind Hrgovic, and the Swedish southpaw will go ahead of Joshua in the next rankings update.

Whether or not Hearn can organise a fight with Hrgovic – who he co-promotes alongside Wasserman Boxing – in the meantime remains to be seen.

Many in the sport believe that Anthony Joshua’s days of fire-fights and quick knockouts are over.

Pundits point to the Olympic Gold Medalist’s stoppage loss to Andy Ruiz Jr in New York back in 2019 as the moment ‘AJ’ switched his style up and began to box tentatively.

Following two losses to Oleksandr Usyk and a second switch of trainer, Joshua has again been labelled a tentative fighter after his performances this year against Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius.

Whilst the man himself says he’s just becoming a smarter operator, others believe he’s gun-shy because of a fear of what’s coming back at him.

Billy Joe Saunders is in that camp. Speaking on Up Front with Simon Jordan, the two-weight world champion said Joshua ‘lets himself down.’

Asked if he thinks Joshua is ‘done’ and if he isn’t willing to put himself in jeopardy inside the ropes any longer, Saunders agreed.

The true test of Joshua’s mentality could come against Deontay Wilder – the American heavyweight with 42 knockouts from 43 wins.

Whilst the fight is struggling to get over the line, the Brit’s team is clear in that it’s still the opponent he wants next. If that’s not the case, there’s a chance he is back out in December.

Following Zhilei Zhang’s incredible stoppage of Joe Joyce in London, many fans have called for him to step in against Anthony Joshua.

The two heavyweights fought on the amateur scene at the London 2012 Olympics quarter-finals, with Joshua dropping Zhang in the second round to go on and win a 15-11 points decision. He won Gold and turned professional one year later.

As things stand, Carl Froch thinks the result would be flipped in the pros. He told Best Gambling Sites that the Brit’s current form wasn’t inspiring.

Having said that, Froch says that potential lies in the bout for Joshua, believing ‘Big Bang’s style to be the acid test as to whether or not he can return to his previous style of searching for a stoppage through accurate and punishing combinations.

Joshua has been criticised of late for fighting tentatively, something pundits believe he can’t do should he land the bout he’s chasing against Deontay Wilder. The same likely applies to Zhang, who was quick to get Joyce out of there with a thudding right hand.

News as to who and when the two-time world champion will fight next is expected soon.