ANTHONY JOSHUA has vowed to take on a tough test for his comeback bout – but didn’t name Tyson Fury as a possible opponent.
Heavyweight star Joshua is set to return to the ring in 2023 as he battles his mental demons following back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk.
The Watford warrior had been in talks with Fury about a mega December dust up but negotiations failed to get over the line.
The 33-year-old is set to meet Eddie Hearn in Abu Dhabi this week to determine how and when he will return.
One potential fight is a mouthwatering rematch with Dillian Whyte, who was brutally knocked out by Fury in April.
The pair have previous, with AJ KO’ing Whyte in a grudge bout back in 2015.
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Other possible opponents include Swedish contender Otto Wallin or dangerous Croatian Filip Hrgovic.
Joshua revealed to DAZN: “I like fighting good opponents.
“Yeah, I’ll fight Otto [Wallin]. Yeah, I’ll fight Dillian [Whyte]. I’ll fight [Filip] Hrgovic.”
Wallin, 31, has only been beaten once in 26 fights, and that was at the hands of WBC champ Fury.
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Hrgovic on the other hand is unbeaten in his 15 professional fights.
Both fighters are tricky propositions for AJ, who has reiterated his desire to only take on the best in the division.
He added: “As much as it’s about becoming a champion, I always felt like it was important for me to fight the best in my era.
“Because there was this whole stigma about cherry picking.
“If you want to get to get to the top, you have to take risks – calculated risks – but you definitely have to take risks. And I just like taking risks.”
Joshua continued: “It’s not how popular a fighter you are that makes you a good fighter, it’s how good a fighter you are that will make you popular.”
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“I’ll never underestimate anyone I step in the ring with. That’s how we have to think.
“Everyone is a solid competitor. And that’ll make me raise my game.”
