Anthony Joshua vs Dominic Breazeale: Joseph Parker next up for Joshua as injury put Tyson Fury out of the picture

Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn revealed that they will seek a fight with IBF mandatory challenger Parker in winter

Anthony Joshua celebrates retaining his IBF heavyweight world title (Getty)

Anthony Joshua expects to make the next defence of his IBF heavyweight title in November.

He also plans to fight mandatory challenger Joseph Parker of New Zealand after a brief rest from his demanding schedule.

Saturday's seventh-round stoppage of America's Dominic Breazeale represented both the finest performance of Joshua's career and the first defence of his title.

He demonstrated improving intelligence and patience against an impressively-resilient opponent, who unexpectedly took the heaviest of punches until referee Howard Foster waved the fight over after the second knockdown in swift succession.

David Haye, as a ringside commentator also spoke of his desire for what would be a big-money fight, but promoter Eddie Hearn revealed Parker is their favoured option, and that a virus meant Saturday's fight was almost postponed.

"November," Hearn responded when asked when the 26-year-old would again fight.

"We like the Joseph Parker fight, that's the mandatory, we'll have to deal with that at some point, whether that's November, December or whether that's March, April that's a good fight.

"He won't say, but he had a virus for a couple of weeks and there were times when we were considering taking the (Breazeale) fight or not. After the (Charles) Martin fight (when Joshua won the title) because of the commercial deals, it's been non-stop: broadcasters, sponsors... the one worry for this fight was burnout.

"He needs a long rest. He needs to go and be a young boy, go and sit on the beach with his mates and mess around. It's been absolutely relentless.

"Our conversations with (Tyson Fury's trainer and uncle) Peter Fury were to look at the Fury fight for November, December, or spring, summer next year, but you never know with Tyson Fury how long someone's going to be in the game, because he's a little bit out there.

"(Fury's ankle) injury has kind of made the decision for us.

"The Parker fight's going to happen in either November, December, or March, April. (Wladimir) Klitschko is a fight we'd love as well, but I'm always reluctant to make a fight of that magnitude in November."


 Joshua put in his best performance so far in defeating Breazeale 
 (Getty)

There was little question Breazeale's ability to take Joshua into the seventh round for only the second time in his career allowed the champion to highlight the subtle improvements he is making.

Only two fights ago he was at risk of defeat when hurt by Dillian Whyte, who he said he found more difficult. He will next commentate on Team GB's boxing team at Rio 2016, and see the family he has spent so little time with since the February announcement of his fight with Martin.

"I've got a good relationship with the (Team GB) boys," he said. "I've known them for years. I'll be doing some commentary work on them at the Olympics.

Dominic Breazeale stumbles after a big right hand from Anthony Joshua (Getty)

"The main thing: I really want to catch up with my family and spend some time at home.

"I'm in a good position. (WBC champion Deontay) Wilder, Fury, Haye, (I'd fight) any one of them, and they all want me."

PA