Anthony Joshua’s ‘top choice’ for his next fight is Deontay Wilder as Eddie Hearn names AJ’s four-man wishlist for interim bout while he waits for Oleksandr Usyk rematch due to Ukraine invasion

Anthony Joshua has given promoter Eddie Hearn a four-man wishlist for his next fight now that it appears the Oleksandr Usyk rematch is off the table for the time being.

The two-time unified WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight world champion was beaten by the Ukrainian in September, but quickly activated his contractual clause to force an immediate rematch.

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Now though, Usyk has returned to Ukraine and joined the Kyiv Territorial Defense to protect his country for Vladimir Putin's invasion by Russia.

As a result, it it looking inevitable that the rematch will be put on hold and Joshua will instead have an interim fight.

Hearn told on Thursday: "AJ will fight absolutely anybody and now he's come on to me and said, 'Look, find out what's happening with Usyk, but if I have an interim fight, here are some of the names that we like, let's make them some offers.'"

The promoter continued: "I spoke to Alex Krassyuk [Usyk's promoter] this morning.

"It's hard to start chasing these guys - imagine what's going on in their lives right now.

"I don't think Usyk right now is thinking about fighting Anthony Joshua.

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"What I said to Alex Krassyuk is, 'We're taking the fight with Usyk, we don't want any other fight. If he needs more time, until September or October, we would fight in the interim. AJ wants to fight end of May, first week of June, so if you're ready for that, brilliant. If you're not, we totally respect that, and we'll give you more time.'

"I think Alex and Usyk will talk over the next 24/48 hours.

"It sounds like he'll need more time, understandably."

Regarding who Joshua could fight instead, Hearn added: "We've got to look at the opponents.

"AJ was talking last night about Luis Ortiz, Otto Wallin - a southpaw, the same as Usyk, might make sense.

"Joe Joyce, even AJ talked about Deontay Wilder.

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"I think if you said to AJ right now, 'Who's your top choice?'

"I think he'd probably go for Deontay Wilder.

"It's not an interim fight, let's be honest...

"One thing's for sure, he'll be fighting a top ten heavyweight, a world ranked heavyweight.

"By the way, I don't think he should fight the names he's mentioning, I'll be honest with you…

"I'm not saying we have to fight someone that's embarrassing, but do you really wanna be fighting the guys that you're mentioning when we have a big ready-made fight with Oleksandr Usyk?

"AJ's answer is, 'Yes.'

"Don't worry about it, I'm not gonna have the say, he's the boss. But respect him and respect the fact that he's a throwback fighter.

"Wilder, Joyce, Ortiz, Wallin, all these guys, they're dangerous fights."