If Anthony Joshua chooses to make a comeback later this year, his return could be arranged by none other than Hollywood star Jason Statham.
The former two-time unified heavyweight champion is currently focused on recovering from a car accident that tragically took the lives of two close friends. His attention is away from boxing at the moment, with his uncle revealing that Joshua may retire after his scheduled fight against Jake Paul in December.
However, if Joshua does opt to fight again, it’s looking likely that kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven might be his next opponent—an idea reportedly inspired by Statham.
During a recent episode of the Ariel Helwani Show, the well-known sports journalist explained how the potential matchup between Joshua and Verhoeven was sparked. According to Helwani, while watching a fight interview with Turki Alarusik, Hollywood actor Jason Statham suggested a plan for Joshua’s future bouts. Statham humorously hinted that after a potential fight with Tyson Fury, Joshua’s next opponent could be Rico Verhoeven.
Helwani added that Statham was interested in the dynamics between Verhoeven and MMA fighter Francis Ngannou, which led to discussions about Verhoeven stepping into boxing for a fight against Joshua.
Fan Take: This potential bout between a boxing icon and a kickboxing legend is electrifying for fight enthusiasts as it could bridge different combat sports, sparking fresh excitement and possibly reshaping the heavyweight landscape. Jason Statham’s involvement adds a unique Hollywood flair that might attract new audiences to the sport.
