Former super middleweight world champion Caleb Truax believes that Nigerian-born British boxer, Anthony Joshua, can be the world most famous boxer in history.
Joshua next faces top-10 heavyweight challenger Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller on June 1 at Madison Square Garden after failing to agree terms with Wilder and Fury.
While Wilder turned down a nine-figure offer from DAZN this week which included two fights against AJ, Fury kept bargaining for a larger flat fee than Eddie Hearn could grant him.
The Matchroom Sport promoter, who has been with Joshua since he turned professional in 2013, will still try to organise an undisputed fight with Wilder for November or December in order to appease fight fans.
Negotiations with Wilder began last summer, during which time Fury was only just returning to the ring after a 31-month hiatus.
There is serious demand to see WBC champion Wilder and WBA-IBF-WBO titlist Joshua clash while it’s still an undisputed bout, and Truax thinks that match-up, along with Joshua vs Fury, needs to happen.
Truax had a short stint in boxing limelight after shocking James DeGale to become 168lb IBF champion in December 2017, and recognises a star when he sees one.
“I think Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez is the biggest star [in boxing] right now but I think Anthony Joshua has the potential to pass him in the near future,” he explains to Express Sport.
“He’s a heavyweight and, historically, the heavyweight division has been the one that’s driven boxing, basically. That’s the one that captures the casual fans’ attention.”
Joshua’s reign at the top has garnered huge interest in his homeland, drawing crowds of at least 75,000 for his last four defences.
His last three fights have clocked over 1million buys on Sky Sports Box Office, while his relationship with subscription video streaming service DAZN is a revolutionary movement in the States.
But for all the numbers and money in the world, his true legacy will be defined by the results of his blockbuster encounters, believes Truax.
“First of all he has to fight Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury to see who’s number one,” added the Minnesota fighter.
“If he can come out on top of that three-way, then I think he’s going to be the biggest star in boxing, quite possibly the biggest star in boxing history.
“The potential is just astronomical for him if he beats Wilder and Fury.”
Anthony Nlebem
