Who Will Joshua Fight Next?

The road towards the undisputed championship begins now for Anthony Joshua, so we have considered five possible opponents to fight next.

Joshua added Joseph Parker's WBO heavyweight title to his IBF and WBA belts in Cardiff on Saturday, and only Deontay Wilder (WBC) remains as another champion.

But the road towards Wilder may not be easy…

Dillian Whyte

Joshua's oldest rival became a serious threat last week by brutally beating Lucas Browne, and was a grinning presence at ringside on Saturday in Cardiff.

Joshua knocked out Whyte in December 2015 to stamp his authority on a bitter feud that originated during their amateur days, when Whyte won their first meeting. It seems an eternity ago now, but Joshua and Whyte's professional slugfest had the British title on the line.

Each man is an entirely different prospect these days. Joshua is far more refined but Whyte has transformed his physique, intensified his training and matured his performances. A rematch has suddenly jumped to the front of the queue as a serious option.

Negotiations could be completed within five minutes so Whyte becomes a serious option for Joshua's next fight. Whyte has chased a shot at Wilder to no avail and his goal of challenging for a world title would be satisfied with a shot at Joshua's even bigger pot of gold, in a dust-up that is likely to cause minimal headaches in the negotiation phase.

Alexander Povetkin

The fearsome Russian contender is the mandatory challenger to Joshua's WBA belt (which he won against Wladimir Klitschko). Joshua has never met a WBA mandatory so that obligation looms.

Povetkin's presence on Joshua's undercard on Saturday was ominous - he survived a wobble to brutally dispatch David Price.

The Russian's promoters told Sky Sports last week about their dream to host a mega-fight in Moscow. Vadim Kornilov, of World of Boxing, said: "It would, depending on timing, fill up the [81,000-seater] Luzhniki Stadium."

Eddie Hearn added: "Joshua will have to fight Povetkin at some in 2018." A meeting, however, is far likelier to take place on Joshua's terms in the UK.

Povetkin, aged 38, has lost once in 35 fights - five years ago he unsuccessfully challenged for Klitschko's belts.

Jarrell Miller

Joshua's post-fight assertions that he has no plans to box in the United States may have scuppered Miller's hopes.

Joshua has long implied his interest in crossing the Atlantic, and Hearn's Matchroom stable have an increasing presence in the States. A Joshua debut abroad seemed inevitable until his words on Saturday night.

"All these years the UK fighters had to go to America, everyone had to spend a heap of money to go to Vegas. We can do it in London, Wembley, Cardiff - it's local. We're staying right here."

Miller, a brash and talkative New Yorker, seemed an ideal foe to welcome Joshua to America (he is the No 3 contender with the IBF and WBA). He is unbeaten in 21 but the likelihood of Joshua vs Miller decreases if the world champion is adamant at staying in the UK.

Kubrat Pulev

There is unfinished business, here. Pulev withdrew from a scheduled meeting with Joshua at 12 days' notice last year, opening the door for late-replacement Carlos Takam. But Pulev remains an experienced and credible rival.

The Bulgarian, aged 36, had an impressive amateur career and, as a pro, has lost just once in 26 fights (a failed attempt to dethrone Klitschko in 2014). Pulev has wins over Britain's Matt Skelton, Michael Sprott and Dereck Chisora.

The bad news for Pulev is that his position as Joshua's IBF mandatory was handed over to Takam. Pulev remains ranked No 4 with that governing body but Joshua is free of IBF mandatories for the foreseeable future.

Deontay Wilder

He is the ultimate target (unless you count Tyson Fury who is approaching three years' absent) and stranger things have happened than Wilder and Joshua's representatives finding an agreement to fight before the end of 2018.

The two remaining world heavyweight champions have said all the right things - "I'll spark him out," growled Joshua post-fight to which Wilder replied: "I accept 100 per cent."

Joshua: I'll knock Wilder spark out

Anthony Joshua said he would knock Deontay Wilder spark out after beating Joseph Parker on points to add the WBO belt to his WBA and IBF titles.

Joshua's message to Wilder

The negotiating table will stage the first chapter of the fight between Joshua and Wilder.

"They don't want it, they've never approached us," Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn claimed. "They don't want to know."

Talks began in earnest at the end of 2017, before the Parker fight was agreed, and Hearn always claimed Wilder's US-based representatives drive a particularly hard bargain.

The unbeaten American, Wilder, has fought his past two fights in New York's Barclays Center but has visited the UK before to oust Audley Harrison. Wembley Stadium and Las Vegas have been mooted for Joshua vs Wilder but there is much work to do before this fantasy becomes reality.            ..  .. Skynews sports.

Heavy rain and up to 10cm of snow hits UK on Easter Monday

Image:A sheep in a snow covered field in NorthumberlandSnow and torrential rain are set to blight this bank holiday Monday, with cold and wet weather expected to cause travel misery for many.

Easter holidaymakers have been warned of treacherous driving conditions, with five weather warnings in place across the UK.

Image:Flooding has already caused problems in Richmond, west London

Yellow "be aware" warnings for rain are in place across the southwest of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with up to 70mm (2.8ins) expected to fall in some areas.

This may result in localised flooding, with about 150 flood alerts and 15 flood warnings in place.

Snow is expected in the north of England, with the possibility of heavy snow over parts of Scotland.

Image:Snow has fallen in Nenthead, Cumbria

Rural communities may become cut off, mainly across the northern Pennines and Scottish Borders, with "significant accumulations" of snow forecast.

Sky News weather presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said: "There are spells of rain and strong winds pushing north through today. As the rain hits colder air across the north there is the likelihood of hill snow too.

Image:The Met Office has issued five yellow weather warnings urging people to be aware

"The Met Office have yellow warnings in force all day for snow across central and southern Scotland, northern England and parts of the Midlands. Accumulations of up 5-10cm (2-4in) are likely over the high ground of these areas, and perhaps a couple of centimetres of wet snow to low levels.

"There are also yellow warnings for the rain across most of Wales, western England, central-southern and southeastern England, valid until 4pm. Northern Ireland has a separate yellow warning for the rain until 9am tomorrow. These areas are at risk of localised flooding and spray on roads.

• The AA has said it will be one of the busiest days on the roads in recent years.

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Anti-apartheid Campaigner Winnie Mandela Dies,Aged 81

R

Image:Winnie and Nelson Mandela on his release from prisonThe South African anti-apartheid campaigner Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has died, aged 81, her personal assistant confirmed.

Her family said she died "peacefully" after a long illness.

They said the former wife of the late Nelson Mandela had been "in and out of hospital since the start of the year".

Image:Winnie Madikizela Mandela, ex-wife of former South African president Nelson Mandela

In a statement, her family said: "Mrs Madikizela-Mandela was one of the greatest icons of the struggle against apartheid. She fought valiantly against the apartheid state and sacrificed her life for the freedom of the country.

"Her activism and resistance to apartheid landed her in jail on numerous occasions‚ eventually causing her banishment to the small town of Brandfort in the then Orange Free State.

:: Nelson Mandela's love affair with Winnie

Image:Winnie Mandela has died aged 81

"She kept the memory of her imprisoned husband Nelson Mandela alive during his years on Robben Island and helped give the Struggle for justice in South Africa one its most recognisable faces.

"She dedicated most of her adult life to the cause of the people and for this was known far and wide as the Mother Of The Nation."

They urged supporters to celebrate the gift of her life.

Image:Winnie Mandela (L), and Nelson Mandela's widow Graca Machel (C), stand by his coffin in 2013

Although she suffered with bad health this year, she still attended her church's Good Friday service, and campaigned with ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa during a voter registration drive last month.

Tributes have been paid across the world following Mrs Madikizela-Mandela's death, while South African politicians have been arriving at her Soweto home to pay their respects.

Retired South African archbishop and Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu led the tributes, saying said she was "a defining symbol of the struggle against apartheid".

"She refused to be bowed by the imprisonment of her husband, the perpetual harassment of her family by security forces, detentions, bannings and banishment," he said.

"Her courageous defiance was deeply inspirational to me, and to generations of activists."
Mrs Madikizela-Mandela was married to Nelson Mandela for nearly four decades until 1996.

He spent much of their marriage in prison, and she campaigned tirelessly for his release, eventually securing on 11 February 1990.

Image:Nelson Mandela congratulates Winnie in 1994 after she was elected at the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress (ANC)

Mrs Madikizela-Mandela was convicted in 1991 of killing an activist named Stompie Seipei who was found near her home with his throat cut.

She was sentenced to six years in prison, but it was reduced on appeal.

The couple separated in 1992, and he sacked her from his cabinet three years later after allegations of corruption. She took her new surname, Madikizela-Mandela, after their divorce.

Image:Mmabatho, SOUTH AFRICA: (FILES) Photo dated 15 March 1994 shows South African anti-apartheid leader Winnie Madikizela-Mandela at a mass rally prior to the 27 April general election. Canada has denied entry to Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, who was to spe

She built her own role as a grassroots activist, completing university at a time when very few black women in South Africa did so, and was politicised by her work as a social worker in a Johannesburg hospital.

Despite controversy and convictions, she was able to rehabilitate her political career, winning a seat in the 2009 elections.

She once accused her former husband of agreeing to a "bad deal for the blacks" but was a regular visitor to his bedside and even with him when he died.

Image:Winnie Mandela (L) arrives at the Rand Supreme court in Johannesburg, 07 March 1991, for her trial where she is facing charges of kidnapping and assault. A state witness testified that the wife of anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela had personnaly b

Mrs Madikizela-Mandela and Mr Mandela had two daughters.

British actor Idris Elba tweeted: "Rest in peace Mama Winnie. My heart is heavy right now. You lived a full and important life contributing to the liberation of a nation by force and ACTUAL ACTIVISM. You will never be forgotten."

Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr, an American civil rights figure, tweeted: "In the darkest hours of the struggle to free South Africa, with Nelson Mandela in prison, the face of hope and courage was Winnie Mandela. May she forever rest in power."

British singer Estelle tweeted: "She lived for everyone, fought for lives and empowered along the way. RIP to a revolutionary, Winnie Mandela!"

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Defend yourself within the provisions of the law- Presidential aide

Garba Shehu, a presidential spokesman for Nigerian leader Muhammadu Buhari, has backed calls by an ex-army general Theophilus Danjuma that Nigerians should defend themselves when under attack, but on one condition.

According to a report by Channels TV, Shehu said self-defense should be carried out within the provisions of the law of the country.

Channels reports that Shehu made this statement while appearing as a guest on the TV station’s political programme, Sunday Politics, however, warned that it must be within the ambit of the law.

He said: “There is absolutely nothing wrong with you defending yourself in line with the law.

“The security services in the country will probably not be telling Nigerians to do nothing when they come and attack.”

Shehu noted that President Buhari was taking the pleas made by Nigerians seriously in dealing with the issues raised by Danjuma.

He said:“This is a listening government and the reaction then was of silence to say to them that we have heard you.

“We will listen to the useful advice you have given us. We will take what we can use from what you have said

However, Shehu denied that the military allowed attacks on communities, leading to bloodshed in the land.

The former minister of defence General Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), on Saturday, March 24, advised Nigerians to defend themselvesagainst killers in the country.

Danjuma made the call while speaking at the maiden convocation of the Taraba State University, Jalingo, the Taraba state capital. Danjuma says there is an attempt at ethnic cleansing in rural states in the country.

“Taraba is a mini Nigeria with diverse ethnic groups living together peacefully, but the peace in this state is under assault.

“There is an attempt at ethnic cleansing in the state and of course, some rural states in Nigeria.

“We must resist it. We must stop it. Everyone of us must rise up,” he said.