Does Boxing Need Anthony Joshua vs Wladimir Klitschko II?

As goes the health of boxing's Heavyweight division, so goes the health of boxing. Currently and thankfully, there is an explosion of new-found interest in the full-figured pugilists. This reached its crescendo on April 29th in jolly old across the pond when Mr. Anthony Joshua (19-0, 19KO) defeated Mr. Wladimir Klitschko (64-5, 53 KO) using 'Punches from the depths of his soul,' to paraphrase BBC Radio commentator Ronald McIntosh. You can read that wonderful quote in its entirety, and my retrospective on the bout HERE.

Now, we have not only have young King Joshua mapping his future conquests, defenses, and learnings -- but too we have Klitschko ruminating over a potential rematch. In other words, the threat of a return to Eastern European slumber still looms as nigh as a straight down the pike 1 - 2 combination. Here, we can only hope for the best; my feelings are that I don't like the risk, no matter how nominal, of a Joshua/Klitschko II. Not only the risk of a Dr. Steelhammer victory, but the further risk of a stagnant trilogy which that seems to beg. Granted, age is no pal of the good doctor, but not expounding and expanding upon Heavyweight interest by way of offered excitements -- is just as less a pal of pugilism writ large.

I shall break it down, then move on to greener pasture'd possibilities for Joshua, the Heavys, and boxing et al. I have already stated what a Joshua loss in a rematch would do: return the crown to its Eastern European slumber. Meh abounds, gentlepersons. Followed by a rubber match that at best would be one step forward and two steps back if won by the Brit. But what if Joshua wins II, too? Is one step forward, one step back all that exciting? In short, Klitschko performed admirably. Not simply in-ring, but out -- both before in taking the match, and after in pure class. Pure class would dictate that the 42 year-old now allow the young man to run with the torch he so proudly passed.

But as Mr. Eddie Hearn hath stated via The Ring via Sky Sports, "We have a situation with Wladimir Klitschko, where we would like to make that fight again ... Fans and broadcasters would like to do that fight again and Wladimir is currently on holiday for two weeks and he will make a decision on his return. If that’s a fight that Wladimir wants, I feel like that will be next for Anthony Joshua." Sounds like the former King hath kept some royal privileges. Clause or not, technicality or not, it makes me cringe.

For the sake of staving off depression, let's say Eddie Hearn never gets that call for rematch from Team Klitschko and that Joshua doth do just that -- run wih said torch. But to where? Excitementville, that's where. Population: everyone. The champ then has two mandatory obligations one via WBA in the form of unbeaten Cuban sir Mr. Luis Ortiz. Whom doth have one loss, but to a drug test, to be fair. The second is Mr. Kubrat Pulev for by way of the IBF.  Personally, I feel that the WBA should take precedence over the IBF, because "World" sounds so much more oomphier than "International." Plus, I wanna see Ortiz get this shot prior to the ship sailing on his career. Notice I said "ship" and not "inner tube raft" in regards to Cuban sea-going vessels, for I am as classy here as I hope Klitschko is there. Let's face it, Luis Ortiz ain't getting any younger and it's ain't getting any easier for us all to believe he doesn't, in fact, exist.

And what of Misters Deontay Wilder and Joseph Parker. And what of the open-handed planning announcement of Joshua fighting twice a year? And what of people not reading overly long boxing articles? I'll hurry along and make good with how I'd like to see all this unfurl:

1. Luis Ortiz
2. Kubrat Pulev
3. Deontay Wilder
4. Joseph Parker

How's that for a two-year plan, gentlepersons? (And how bout each of those potential bouts get discussed on a future Boxing City Podcast?) I'd add this: if someone beats him, they continue on down the list prior to talk of rematches, so on and so-forth. And what of Tyson Fury, you may ask? I say he fights Mr. Shannon Briggs after Briggs beats Fres Oquendo. David Haye can have the winner, in that, the WWE wing of the Heavyweight division... and leave room there for "Windmill" Wilder.