The days of the early demolition jobs look to have gone.
Anthony Joshua has moved to 20-0 but it was far from routine as the durability of opponent Carlos Takam tested Joshua’s staying power in Cardiff.
Takam simply wouldn’t go down under the furious flurries of ‘AJ’ and when the stoppage eventually arrived in the tenth round, it was quite controversial as referee Phil Edwards saved Takam when he didn’t exactly need saving.
It was a fight for Joshua which will certainly prove more beneficial for him in the long run than if he had run through the challenger in the first round.
The 28-year-old was miles ahead on the scorecards and the chances of a spectacular comeback knockout from Takam, if he had been allowed to continue, were slim to none.
The question now comes… What’s next for Joshua?
Well promoter Eddie Hearn wasted no time in dropping the three names that ‘AJ’ will meet in 2018.
“Deontay Wilder, he talks a lot but he’s not really fighting anybody right now. Deontay Wilder against Anthony Joshua has to happen,” Hearn said.
“There’s also a great heavyweight called Tyson Fury. We want to see him come back to the sport. Anthony Joshua wants to be in the real fights. I promise you and I promise the fans that he will give you the fights that you want.
“I promise you that! Deontay Wilder, Joseph Parker, Tyson Fury – those are the 2018 fights.
“Tonight was a mandatory. You fight that fight or you lose the belt. He worked so hard for that belt. Anthony Joshua has achieved so much.
“I want to thank everybody for coming out here in Cardiff. I don’t think we should go abroad. I think we should stay right here.
“I think we should keep the British flag flying. That’s what Anthony Joshua has done but I promise you he will fight anyone.
“And Deontay Wilder will be relieved of that belt in 2018.”
