Anthony Joshua channeled his inner Canelo Alvarez when responding to Andre Ward’s offer for a potential fight.
Joshua is gearing up for his return to the ring, having been inactive since he was knocked out by Daniel Dubois in September last year.
While he is believed to be making a return in late 2025, or at the beginning of 2026, Joshua’s opponent is yet to be officially announced.
One man that is vying for the spot in the opposite corner is, former professional boxer, Andre Ward.
Ward was a hugely respected pound-for-pound fighter in his heyday, although he has been retired since 2017.
The American left the ring with an unbeaten professional record of 32-0, but is now suggesting he’d make a return if Joshua accepts his offer to fight.
Ward took to Instagram when he suggested in a video: “There’s one name that I brought up before that when you say that name I can see myself fighting him. Present day. Today.
“If the business was right and everything was right on that front, me and Anthony Joshua.
“That’s a fight that I would take at Wembley Stadium. It’s a dangerous fight for my legacy, it’s a dangerous fight across the board. But that’s a fight that would get me in the gym and get me in the mindset that I need to be in to go to war.
“It’s Anthony Joshua. I know he’s getting ready to fight Jake Paul, I ain’t talking about that. I’m talking about a real fight.”
Joshua quickly hit back suggesting that this is purely a financial move from Ward.
He savagely said: “Pay Day Pay Day [Canelo voice].”
Which then sparked a back-and-forth between the pair in the comment section of Ward’s post.
The 41-year-old hit back, saying: “Of course brother, do you fight for free? Business is always a reason, but not the only reason. I think you understand that.”
To which Joshua replied: “Don’t come asking for multi millions to fight me. Put your pride before your ego and let’s rumble.”
That was where their public interactions came to a close, although Joshua continued to respond to fans remarks in the same comment section.
Who will Anthony Joshua be fighting next?
Ward seemed serious in getting a chance to fight Joshua, but as it stands the Briton is heavily linked to a fight with another American instead.
The next time we see Joshua in the ring, it’s heavily speculated that he will be facing off against Jake Paul.
Paul recently met with Saudi boxing promoter Turki Alalshikh to discuss the terms.
Having already verbally agreed to fight it seems to be a matter of when, not if, we see them share the ring.
The pair are even understood to be in advanced talks.
Joshua’s long-term promoter and Matchroom Boxing chairman, Eddie Hearn, issued Paul a warning should their bout go ahead.
It seemed to be a humorous idea at one stage, but now as the conversations are progressing we may seriously see a match up between Joshua and the Youtuber-turned-boxer after all.