Anthony Joshua's Next Fight is Set and it's Not Against Tyson Fury

Even before Deontay Wilder's corner made it official by throwing in the towel in the seventh of the WBC Heavyweight Championship bout last weekend, the boxing world ran through a list of fighters that could challenge Tyson Fury's crown.

Anthony Joshua, for obvious reasons, was the first name to roll off the tongue for many. The all-British showdown narrative was compelling. More importantly, however, Joshua presently holds the WBA, IBF, and WBO crowns and is due to defend them.

Well, it pains us to report that that mouthwatering spectacle will not happen, at least not yet. BoxingScene.com has learned that AJ will battle Kubrat Pulev at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on June 20.

This really shouldn't come as a surprise -- especially after Wilder triggered his clause for an immediate rematch with the Gypsy King. Further, Pulev is the No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger for the IBF title.

A Joshua-Pulev bout has been in the works for quite some time. In fact, it should have happened already. Back in October of 2017, the 38-year-old was scheduled to challenge Joshua for his IBF, WBA, WBO, and IBO titles in Cardiff. However, Pulev sustained a shoulder injury while training for the fight and was forced to withdraw his name.

This news will certainly be viewed as a buzzkill, but fans can take solace in the fact that a Fury-Wilder trilogy is in the works.