Anthony Joshua hasn’t fought since September last year.

That was when the former two-time world heavyweight champion suffered a devastating loss at the hands of IBF champion Daniel Dubois.

He was put down in the first round and then stopped in the fifth, ending a good run before then that included wins over Robert Helenius, Francis Ngannou and Otto Wallin.

Since then, ‘AJ’ has been recovering from minor injuries and recently revealed he is due to have elbow surgery this month, which will keep him out until later in the year.

Joshua is 35-years-old and has had 32 bouts, including tough nights against the likes of Andy Ruiz Jr, and two tight 12-round battles with Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and 2022, so he likely only has a few fights left.

Speaking to BoxNation, he was asked who is on his current hit list.

“Potential fight with Fury, hopefully that happens. I think the industry should not be left without it. Those interested should be able to witness it. I think a potential flight with [Martin] Bakole, [Agit] Kabayel. Who else is there, [Deontay] Wilder?”

Any of those would excite fans, though Wilder only returns for the first time in a year in June after a string of losses, and Fury is currently retired. ‘AJ’ was then asked about a fight with the winner of the undisputed showdown in July between Usyk and Dubois.

“Do you want me to be completely honest with you, Parker deserves it more than me right now?”

Parker, who Joshua beat in 2018, is mandatory for Usyk’s WBO belt so will likely get an immediate shot at the winner.

Anthony Joshua has confirmed plans to return to the ring in December, following a period of recovery after undergoing elbow surgery this month.

The two-time world heavyweight boxing champion has been out of action since suffering a devastating fifth-round knockout against Daniel Dubois at Wembley in September last year

Speaking to the media in Mexico, Joshua revealed that he was prioritising physical rehabilitation before resuming full training later this year.

The procedure is expected to keep him out of the gym for up to eight weeks, pushing his return to the final month of 2025 and extending his lay-off to over a year.

While fans had hoped for a long-anticipated clash with Tyson Fury, a winter return effectively rules out a stadium fight in the UK and may delay that showdown until 2026, unless it is staged in the Middle East.

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn remains hopeful that a fight with Fury can still be agreed in future, though Joshua has also hinted at other potential opponents including Martin Bankole, Agit Kabayel and Deontay Wilder, whose own comeback bout is scheduled for next month.

The British star acknowledged the need to elevate his performance if he is to reclaim world championship status.

British-Nigerian boxing star Anthony Joshua is weighing up a potential investment in EFL Championship side Watford FC — the club from his hometown, Soccernet.ng reports.

The former unified heavyweight champion, who was born and raised in Watford and still lives in the area, is reportedly exploring an opportunity to take a financial stake in the club.

At 35, Joshua has already carved out a highly successful boxing career — Olympic gold in 2012 and multiple world titles in the professional ranks — earning an estimated $110 million in the process.

Now, the two-time world champion is looking to channel his success into long-term business ventures.

Speaking to Seconds Out, Joshua explained his motivation to invest strategically rather than spend frivolously — and revealed that Watford FC has emerged as a serious option.

“It’s a serious investment” – British-Nigerian boxer Anthony Joshua eyes Watford takeover

“We wanted to move into private equity, venture capital funds,” Joshua told Seconds Out, via TalkSport.

“As you earn, naturally you want to save, so rather than me spending recklessly I’m trying to invest money into certain asset classes — and that [Watford] was an opportunity that presented itself.”

He added: “Nothing’s come of it yet. It’s a serious investment. If it comes off, it’s one that should do well.

“If they went back to the Premier League, then I’d need to get a shop on Market Street because the traffic that would be coming through Watford would be phenomenal.

“I’m not a massive football fan myself, but watching the fans stream down Market Street and into Vicarage Road — those were great scenes. If we don’t do it, then good luck to them anyway because they’re a great team.”

Joshua has previously invested in real estate and other businesses, and this potential move into football adds another layer to his post-boxing portfolio.

Watford finished 14th in the 2024/25 Championship campaign, securing safety but falling short of a promotion challenge. The Hornets, who were relegated from the Premier League in 2022, have since been striving to reclaim top-flight status.

The club has had several Nigerian stars in recent years, including Odion Ighalo, William Troost-Ekong and Emmanuel Dennis — a connection that could make Joshua’s involvement even more meaningful for fans.

Anthony Joshua Casts Doubt On Why Heavyweight Rival’s Fight Was Cancelled: “I Know The Truth”

Anthony Joshua has teased some inside information on the heavyweight scene.

The big-punching Brit is currently recovering from injuries and preparing for shoulder surgery before mounting a comeback, following a loss to Daniel Dubois in September of last year.

‘AJ,’ as one of the biggest stars in the sport, has options as to who he will face, one of which has been named as American Jarrell Miller. The pair have history dating back to 2019 when they were scheduled to fight but saw it canned when Miller tested positive for various banned substances.

Promoter Eddie Hearn recently said that the trash-talking Brooklyn native would be a potential opponent for Joshua should he come through Fabio Wardley. However, that fight was later pulled, with the promotion stating Miller was out due to an injury suffered during training camp.

In an interview with IFL TV, Joshua discussed the cancelled bout.

“And how come… I know why Fabio and Miller didn’t happen, but do you know why?”

When it was put to him that it was released that Miller had an injury, Joshua smiled and said that he had ‘the low down.’

“Is it? Okay. God damn. I could do your job better than you. Get me in front of the camera, I’ll give people the low down.”

Miller is yet to speak out on the cancellation or the injury.

Meanwhile, Wardley will now face New Zealand’s Justis Huni on the same date at the same venue – Ipswich Town’s Portman Road Stadium.

Anthony Joshua has hinted that he is still interested in a long-overdue showdown with British rival Tyson Fury even as he revealed he would soon be undergoing ‘ small’ surgery.

Reports emerged this past week that Fury could be tempted out of retirement for a ‘generational’ Battle of Britain and a bout with ‘AJ’ has always piqued the interest of fans.

Fury hung up his gloves for a fourth time in January after suffering a second consecutive defeat at the hands of Oleksandr Usyk, but speculation has mounted that he could make a dramatic comeback after returning to full training.

Fury’s promoter Frank Warren admitted the potential fight would ‘tempt all of us’ while reminding fans that ‘you never know what can happen in boxing’.

The  Mail Sport were able to get Joshua’s thoughts as he arrived to watch Canelo Alvarez’s victory over William Scull in Riyadh in the early hours of Sunday morning.

“We’ll save that conversation for another time,” Joshua joked in response to being asked if he wants the fight.

“I think what we’ll do for the viewers at home is go back over the years and find the same answer for the same question. Same , same, nothing changed.”

Joshua will need to return to full fitness before any concrete talks over a Fury bout can take place.

He hasn’t fought since he was sensationally knocked out by Daniel Dubois in five rounds in front of 96,000 fans at Wembley Stadium on September 21 after being dropped multiple times.

Joshua has been dealing injury and told DAZN on Sunday night that he requires surgery.

“When do you want me back people? I’m trying to get my body right. I’ve got to have surgery on my elbow. A small surgery sometime in May,” Joshua said. “That will see me out the gym for maybe 6-8 weeks. As soon as I’m healed I’ll be back.”

Joshua expanded on his recovery in his interview with Mail Sport, saying:“ I’ve gotta do my rehab, really.

“My body has been through the works innit. If I want to be here for the long time I just want to make sure my body is really good before I get back into the ring.

“Sooner than later. I’m still training but I’m just kind of rebuilding.

“What it is basically… to be good is not enough in boxing, if you want to be a world champion you’ve got to be great.

“Throughout the last year or so, especially my last fight I was good but not great.

:To be a champion you gotta be ‘on your s*** basically and I need to step my game up.”

FORMER two-time heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua has offered a mini insight into who his next dance partner could be.

The 35-year-old has not fought since his devastating defeat to Daniel Dubois last September, back when he climbed off the canvas three times before getting halted in the fifth round.

Dubois has also remained out of the ring following their thrilling encounter, with a scheduled outing against Joseph Parker getting scuppered last February.

The IBF titlist was supposed to defend his newly-acquired belt but, after suffering an illness during fight week, was ultimately forced to pull out of their contest.

Instead, the 27-year-old is now gearing up for a rematch with heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk, who will look to reclaim his undisputed crown at Wembley Stadium, London, on July 19.

Usyk dethroned Joshua, 28-4 (25 KOs), with a comprehensive unanimous decision victory back in 2021, before edging a more fiercely contested split decision to retain his three world titles in their immediate rematch.

But while most would expect an eagerness from ‘AJ’ to take on the winner of Usyk-Dubois 2, he has graciously admitted, in an interview with BoxNation, that Parker is more deserving of the opportunity.

Meanwhile, with domestic rival Tyson Fury teasing a possible comeback on social media, it would appear that Joshua has not lost hope in the potential mega fight.

“Hopefully [the Fury fight] happens,” he told BoxNation. “The industry should not be left without it, and those [who are] interested should be able to witness it.

After expressing his interest in colliding with Fury, the Olympic gold medallist then highlighted heavyweight contenders Martin Bakole, Agit Kabayel and Deontay Wilder as alternative options.

Joshua’s next fight, however, appears to still be a fair distance away, as with elbow surgery planned for later this month, his layoff will likely be extended for a short while longer.