Unified world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua added the WBO belt to his roster of titles with a points victory over Joseph Parker in Cardiff.
Joshua now holds four world heavyweight titles after beating Parker, with only Deontay Wilder’s WBC belt missing from his collection.
Talk of a unification fight with the 32-year-old American will now gather pace, and should Joshua take that title, he would become the first boxer to hold all five heavyweight belts – becoming the first undisputed heavyweight title since Lennox Lewis, way back in 2000. Joshua could achieve that feat after just 22 professional fights.
Promoter Eddie Hearn suggested Dillian Whyte could in fact face Povetkin instead, in a move that could be seen to clear the path for a hugely lucrative bout with Wilder. Only time will tell.
But speaking after the bout, Joshua told Sky Sports that Wilder, and his title, is the one he wants
“Remember that I am the unified heavyweight champion of the worlds.
“That is 21 professional fights with six world title fights in it
“Don’t believe the hype about him. People who know me know I don’t do that, so we will sit down, my team and Eddie Hearn and then they can talk to his time and Al Hamon, then we’ll see.
“Just like Dillian said… Let’s gooooo! ”
The fight went the full twelve rounds, with the judges making the Brit the unanimous win
The one remaining belt is held by the Wilder (below) of the United States and, following his victory, Joshua made it abundantly clear that that is the fight he wants next.
Reflecting on the fight itself, he added: “My strategy was to stick behind the jab and that secured me another world title belt.
“I thought it was hard, but going the twelve rounds was light work.
“I know the bookies say I might get a knockout but forget the hype, Parker was a world champion.
“This was a boxing match, not a fight. Parker said this would be war, I said this would be boxing finesse.”
