Anthony Joshua Names His Dream Heavyweight Hit List and Fans Aren’t Buying It
Anthony Joshua is still talking like a man with unfinished business, but not everyone is convinced the story ends the way he hopes.
The former heavyweight king recently jumped on the Mr. Versace podcast and started running through a list of fighters he still wants to face. It wasn’t a short list either. Joshua mentioned Daniel Dubois, Fabio Wardley, Agit Kabayel, Moses Itauma, Deontay Wilder, and even Tyson Fury. To Joshua, these aren’t just random names. They’re the fights he believes can help define the next chapter of his career.
But the second those comments hit social media, fans wasted no time jumping in with their opinions.
And let’s just say a lot of them weren’t exactly showing confidence in AJ.
Joshua spoke about a possible rematch with Dubois, a future showdown with Wardley, and a fight against Kabayel if the German heavyweight reaches the top of the division. He also mentioned rising star Moses Itauma, who has quickly become one of the most talked-about young fighters in boxing. Then there’s Wilder, a matchup fans have wanted for years but somehow never got.
As for Tyson Fury, Joshua made it clear he doesn’t see him as some special case.
“Fury is just another number,” Joshua said.
That line alone got people talking.
For years, fans treated a Joshua vs. Fury fight like the biggest event British boxing could possibly make. It was supposed to happen several times, but negotiations always seemed to fall apart. Now Joshua is saying Fury isn’t above anyone else on his list. In his eyes, they’re all obstacles standing between him and his goals.
The problem is that many fans aren’t focused on Joshua’s future plans.
They’re focused on his recent past.
One comment that gained attention joked that Joshua could go “0-7” against all the opponents he named. Harsh? Absolutely. But it showed the mood of a lot of boxing fans right now.
Another fan simply wrote, “Got to get past next fight first.”
Others were even more direct.
“AJ is done.”
“Itauma would humiliate AJ.”
“Stop talking and let’s see it.”
The replies kept coming.
A lot of fans seemed confused that Joshua was already discussing Fury, Dubois, Wilder, Wardley, Kabayel, and Itauma when he still has business to handle in front of him. In boxing, looking too far ahead has always been dangerous. One bad night can change everything.
That’s why some supporters believe Joshua should be keeping his attention on the next challenge instead of listing dream opponents.
Still, Joshua’s confidence shouldn’t really surprise anyone.
This is a guy who built his career believing he could beat anybody in the world. That mindset helped him become a two-time heavyweight champion and one of the biggest stars the sport has seen in the last decade.
You don’t reach those heights by doubting yourself.
The issue is that boxing fans have watched Joshua go through some tough moments over the last few years.
His back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk changed the way many people viewed him. Before those fights, Joshua was seen as a dominant force with world titles, knockout power, and massive drawing ability. After losing twice to Usyk, questions started appearing.
Then came the Daniel Dubois fight.
That loss hit differently.
Dubois didn’t just beat Joshua. He stopped him. For many fans, it felt like another sign that the old version of AJ might be gone for good.
Heavyweight boxing can be brutal like that.
One year you’re being called the future of the division. A couple of losses later, people start acting like you’ve got nothing left.
That’s where Joshua finds himself today.
There are still plenty of people who believe he can compete at the highest level. He’s only one big win away from changing the conversation. Heavyweight boxing has always been unpredictable. A single knockout can flip an entire career around overnight.
At the same time, the division isn’t getting any easier.
Dubois looks stronger than ever. Kabayel has been building momentum. Wardley continues to improve. Wilder remains dangerous despite recent setbacks. Itauma is the young lion everybody’s watching. And Fury, even with retirement talk floating around, remains one of the biggest names in the sport.
None of those fights would be easy.
That’s probably why fans reacted so strongly.
A few years ago, many people would have picked Joshua to beat most of those names. Today, the conversation sounds very different.
The funny thing is that Joshua seems completely aware of the criticism.
Yet he keeps talking about championships.
He keeps talking about big fights.
He keeps talking about becoming a three-time heavyweight champion.
Whether fans believe him or not, he’s refusing to lower his ambitions.
And honestly, that’s part of what has always made Joshua interesting.
Love him or hate him, he’s never been short on confidence.
Right now, the heavyweight division feels like a crowded street full of dangerous traffic. Young contenders are coming fast. Established stars are fighting for position. Former champions are trying to prove they still belong.
Joshua wants everyone to know he’s still in that mix.
The fans, though, aren’t ready to hand him anything.
They want proof.
Not podcast quotes.
Not dream fight lists.
Not predictions.
They want victories.
Until Joshua starts collecting wins against top-level opponents again, the doubts aren’t going anywhere. That’s just how boxing works.
The heavyweight division doesn’t care about what happened yesterday.
It only cares about what happens the next time the bell rings.
