Anthony Joshua next fight: Conor McGregor 5,000/1 to face heavyweight champ after Klitschko KO

Ultimate Fighting Championship superstar Conor McGregor is among the outsiders to face unified heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua in his next fight, after the Briton knocked-out Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium. The 27-year-old added the WBA title to his IBF crown with a sensational display in-front of 90,000 at the national stadium, stopping Klitschko in the 11<sup>th round of a contest which saw both men knocked down.

In the immediate aftermath of the career-defining victory, Joshua sent a challenge to fellow-Briton Tyson Fury, who the Londoner wants to face in a second bout at Wembley. Fury is currently in exile having been suspended for an anti-doping violation, which saw him stripped of the heavyweight titles he won from Klitschko in November 2015.

But with Fury remaining out-of-action and no confirmation over a timescale regarding his return to the ring, Joshua may be forced to look elsewhere for his next opponent. The current bookmakers' favourite is Kubrat Pulev [7/4], who is the mandatory challenger for the IBF title. Twenty-four hours prior to Joshua defeating Klitschko, the Bulgarian beat Kevin Johnson on points in Sofia.

Klitschko has the option for a rematch, making the 41-year-old Ukrainian second favourite at 3/1 to face Joshua next. Deontay Wilder, who was ringside at Wembley, is next in the pecking order at 7/2 with the added carrot of being the current WBC champion. Tony Bellew, who is 20/1 to take on Joshua before the end of 2017, is chasing a fight with the American.

New Zealander Joseph Parker and Cuban Luis Ortiz are placed ahead of Bolton boxer Fury, while David Haye is at 33/1. Finally, UFC star McGregor optimistically props up the price list at 5,000/1. The Irishman is currently chasing a cross-code clash with Floyd Mayweather as he continues his mixed martial arts hiatus.

With McGregor competing several weight divisions below Joshua, the chances of a fight ever materialising are remote at best. A spokesperson for Paddy Power said: "After getting up from the canvas in the 6<sup>th round to floor Klitschko in the 11<sup>th, Anthony Joshua's stock around the globe couldn't be higher. With the Brit expected to fight one more time this year there's a long list of challengers and it looks very likely that Tyson Fury will be made to wait – which will at least allow the big man to get plenty of cardio in."