Anthony Joshua then offered to fight for the world title: “We can sign that tomorrow”

After defeating Jake Paul, Antoine Joshua perhaps just one victory away from a long-awaited showdown with Tyson Fury. However, the two-time heavyweight champion was offered the chance to fight for a world title in his next outing.

Joshua ended 15 months of inactivity by stopping Paul after six rounds and its plan for 2026 now seems quite clear. “AJ” is expected to return to action in February, where a victory would be expected to set up a clash with longtime rival Fury for the second half of the schedule.

When it comes to Joshua’s opponents for his February return, Dutch kickboxer and Fury’s former training partner Rico Verhoeven has emerged as a favorite, with fight news expected imminently.

However, the Queensberry promoter Frank Warren told The Stomping Ground that he would be ready to organize a clash between his Fabio Wardley, new WBO heavyweight world champion and Joshua, to potentially add a world title to the blockbuster with Fury.

“Fight Fabio Wardley, do it tomorrow, sign him tomorrow. If he says yes, I’ll go to his house right away. On Christmas Day, I’ll go there and we’ll close the deal. Why wouldn’t you do it?”

You said you wanted to fight for a world title, fight Fabio Wardley. In the meantime, if you are not [wanting to fight for a world title] and you want to wait for Tyson, then wait for Tyson.

All these people keep saying he has to do these things to come back. [and fight] for a world title, he’s not a spring chicken, he’s been there and he’s a double world champion. If he wants to come back, then there you have it, Fabio Wardley – another guy who has had no amateur experience.

Let me tell you what it is, what he doesn’t need to do, AJ, is fight anyone who can punch, because then there won’t be a Tyson fight.

Eddie Hearn once admitted that a world title fight is Joshua’s preferred option, rather than a fight against Furybut money talks and his lucrative meeting with Fury is surely too important to risk by facing a tough opponent in February.