Uncategorized

Former World Champion Calls Out Anthony Joshua For Long Awaited Fight

By Al Faqiih June 21, 2025

Former World Champion Calls Out Anthony Joshua For Long Awaited Fight: “Let’s Get It On”

A former long-reigning world heavyweight champion is targeting a showdown with Anthony Joshua.

Joshua has not fought since he suffered a devastating fifth round knockout defeat to countryman Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium last September in his attempt to become a three-time heavyweight champion.

It has been confirmed in recent weeks that the 35-year-old from Watford will make his return to the ring before the end of the year, with an official date and opponent expected to be announced in due course.

One man that could face Joshua in his return is former WBC world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, who is also coming off a brutal knockout loss to China’s Zhilei ‘Big Bang’ Zhang.

In an interview with Inside Boxing Live, Wilder said that he would welcome a potential showdown with ‘AJ’ in the near future.

“I’m in it to win it. The heavyweight division is a small division so all of us can fight six, seven times because it’s so small. I’m in it to fight whoever, whenever, wherever. I’m a fighter. I have a fighter mentality. I have a king mentality. I don’t shy away from fights.

“As long as he’s in the division and I’m in the division, I’m always willing to fight whoever no matter what the situation is.”

‘The Bronze Bomber’ followed this up with one final message for Joshua.

“Let’s get it on.”

Keep Reading

Uncategorized

Anthony Joshua in race against time for final legacy fights – Deontay Wilder next

By Al Faqiih June 20, 2025

Anthony Joshua in race against time for final legacy fights – Deontay Wilder next before Tyson Fury showdown?

Promoter Eddie Hearn revealed Anthony Joshua is expected to retire in 2026; that leaves the former world heavyweight champion with only three or four fights left in his career; but Hearn hopes they could finally be against long-time rivals Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury

Anthony Joshua will retire next year, says promoter Eddie Hearn. It leaves AJ in a race against time to secure the final fights he needs for his legacy.

Joshua has been a major star in British boxing but so far has not managed to secure fights with his key rivals, Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury.

Over the years, the heavyweight trio had opportunities to fight each other, potentially with the undisputed world championship on the line. That would no longer be on offer and Joshua, Wilder and Fury have now all lost their most recent fights.

Fury retired after losing for a second time to unified champion Oleksandr Usyk, while Joshua needs to rebuild after a crushing knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois last year.

Joshua has had a successful operation on his elbow and is looking for a comeback fight before the end of 2025.

“Deontay Wilder fights next week. I know he’s a name that’s been mentioned,” Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn told Sky Sports.

“There is a potential that AJ could fight Deontay Wilder in October, November, December, and then fight Tyson Fury, and then he’s kind of got the full set in terms of every elite heavyweight of this generation, he’s faced in the ring.

“AJ will return during that period this year and obviously he must win, and that performance will tell us a lot about the future of Anthony Joshua.”

He believes Fury could still come out of retirement to box Joshua. “If we don’t make the Tyson Fury fight, it would be a big shame,” Hearn said.

“So, for me, the Tyson Fury fight has to happen. I think there’s no excuse now why that shouldn’t happen.

“I think people are tired of hearing about it. Let’s just get them in the ring. To see those two in the opposite corner would be an iconic moment for not just British boxing, but British sport.

“First things first. Our comeback begins October, November, December, and then hopefully Mr Fury is ready to rumble in 2026.”

However, Hearn does not expect Joshua to box beyond next year.

“2026 could be his last year in the sport,” the promoter said. “What else do you expect? I mean, that’s three or four fights away. He can’t go on forever but he’s motivated, physically feeling good now to return to camp and ready for one little last roll to this incredible career. Hopefully that involves a fight with Mr Fury.”

Is world title dream over?

Dubois brutally ended Joshua’s bid to become a three-time world heavyweight champion last September.

He fights Usyk in an undisputed heavyweight title fight in July. As Joshua has lost to both men previously he would not be favoured to beat either Usyk or Dubois in a potential 2026 bout.

But once an undisputed champion is crowned next month, heavyweight world titles could become vacant – it is always hard for one man to meet the mandatory commitments of all four sanctioning bodies.

“Anything’s possible in the division,” Hearn said. “There’s a great crop of young heavyweights coming through.

“With AJ’s profile, he can land whatever fight he wants.”

But he added: “The fight that he wants is Tyson Fury. We know right now that’s not available so we’ll do our thing.

“We know that older generation of heavyweights, which is Usyk and Fury and AJ, are in their final run. But don’t rule them out just yet.”

Keep Reading

Uncategorized

Anthony Joshua was such a student of the game he would ask amateur boxing hopefuls for

By Al Faqiih June 20, 2025

Anthony Joshua was such a student of the game he would ask amateur boxing hopefuls for advice, reveals Galal Yayai

ANTHONY JOSHUA was such a student of the game he would even ask amateur boxing hopefuls for advice.

AJ only started boxing at 18 but just four years later he won Olympic gold for Great Britain in London.

And after turning professional, he won the unified heavyweight world titles under the mentorship of GB head coach Rob McCracken.

Flyweight Galal Yafai – who won gold in Tokyo in 2021 – spent time with AJ at the GB’s Sheffield HQ and was blown away by his eagerness to learn – from all comers.

Yafai told SunSport: “It’s quite crazy really and it’s not a disrespectful thing, but sometimes he’d ask someone who’s like a young kid who’s just getting on the team, who’s not even on the full podium squad that’s on like an academy, which is like the younger team.

“He’d ask them questions and I’d be like bloody hell, why are you asking him, him a question?

“They just get on the team, he should be asking you, you’re the Olympic gold medalist, you’re the unified world champion.

“But yeah, he’d always ask questions even from people – I don’t want to say below him – but that are new to the team, way less experienced, not even just a little bit like way less experienced.

“But he’d always give time, he’s always good to myself and everyone around.”

Joshua, 35, parted ways with McCracken after losing to Oleksandr Usyk, 38, in September 2021.

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

He has since been cornered by Robert Garcia, Derrick James and most recently Ben Davison.

AJ has been out the ring since September when he was knocked out by Daniel Dubois, 27, before undergoing elbow surgery.

He is yet to return to camp and Yafai – who faces Mexican Francisco Rodriguez Jr on Saturday – warned not to rule out a reunion with McCracken in Sheffield.

Yafai said: “I was there when Josh was there and he became like part of the family and it was quite surreal at one stage because he was one of the most famous people in Britain, especially sportsman, but he became just someone that you’d see every day in the gym when he was in camp anyway.

“So I almost became numb to it but he was a great fighter and a superstar. He helped everyone in in British boxing and I looked up to him when I was coming through.

“If he ever came back Sheffield it’d be good to see him around but I don’t know that’s something that him and Rob would have to go through but crazier things have happened.”

Yafai bids to earn a shot at unified WBA and WBC champion Kenshiro Teraji – but first has to get past veteran Rodriguez Jr.

He said: “I’d expect it, but you never know in boxing. Rodriguez is a top five competitor.

“He’s a former champion, he fought the best of the best, so it’s not an easy fight. People don’t really know him too well but I can’t look past him.

“He’s a really good fighter and that’s the thing nowadays, if people don’t know who you’re fighting, they don’t think they’re that good, which is the biggest mistake someone can make because he’s a really good fighter but he’s just not hugely well known here.

“I’m not looking past him. He’s a great fighter and hopefully I can get rid of him Saturday.”

Keep Reading

Uncategorized

Anthony Joshua will return to boxing in 2025 and Tyson Fury fight

By Al Faqiih June 20, 2025

Anthony Joshua will return to boxing in 2025 and Tyson Fury fight hinges on his performance

The boxing world is waiting for dominos to fall in the heavyweight division. Oleksandr Usyk is one month away from fighting for the undisputed titles against Daniel Dubois, in a rematch from 2023. Meanwhile, the industry awaits Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury‘s next move.

Fury is technically retired, but it has seemed like a sure thing that he will fight Joshua at some point soon. Nothing has come to fruition yet, and Joshua needs to move forward with a tune-up in order to stay active. Now, we know when that will happen, as promoter Eddie Hearn has told everyone that Joshua will fight at the end of this year. His potential opponent: Deontay Wilder.

Tyson Fury could fight Anthony Joshua twice in 2026

While revealing Joshua’s return date, Hearn also let loose that Fury won’t be his opponent this year. Despite that, 2026 could be a huge year for both fighters.

Hearn was asked if Wilder could be an option for Joshua for his next fight. Hearn likes the idea and thinks it can happen.

I don’t see why not… We want to fight Fury. And the plan is for us to fight in October, November, or December, and then fight Tyson twice. Or certainly once. And I can’t see that fight not happening. As long as AJ comes through at the end of the year.

It sounds like it all hinges on Joshua’s performance at the end of this year. A good performance, against Wilder or someone else, should trigger the Fury bout – potentially two of them. But if Joshua fails to perform, we may be looking at the end of both Joshua and Fury’s careers.

Keep Reading

Uncategorized

Amir Khan Delivers New Verdict On Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua Fight: “He

By Al Faqiih June 20, 2025

Amir Khan Delivers New Verdict On Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua Fight: “He Has The Power”

There is still hope that Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury will manage to come together in the ring, and now Amir Khan has given his verdict.

Fury and Joshua will go down in British heavyweight boxing history as two of the biggest stars of their generation. Fury began his professional career first while Joshua was busy winning an Olympic gold medal at London 2012.

When Fury left the sport with issues outside of the ropes after dethroning Wladimir Klitschko, Joshua took the reigns and became a unified world champion by beating the likes of Charles Martin, Joseph Parker and Klitschko. He didn’t lose until 2019 when he was stopped by underdog Andy Ruiz Jr.

‘AJ’ avenged that loss but was then beaten in 2021 and 2022 by future undisputed king Oleksandr Usyk.

It was also Usyk who handed Fury – who returned to the ring to defeat long-reigning champ Deontay Wilder twice – the first and then second losses of his career.

His failed attempt to become undisputed against Usyk in May 2024, then the loss in the rematch, meant he announced his retirement back in January and, for now, put an end to hopes of a showdown with Joshua.

Speaking to The Stomping Ground, former world champion Khan made his case for both men should ‘The Gypsy King’ return.

“It’s a hard fight to call cause styles make fights. Joshua has so much power, strong, Fury boxes so well. I would love to see the fight, it is a 50-50 fight. Both guys have been put down. What a fight it would be.

“But one thing about Fury, Fury is just a hard ba***rd, isn’t he, he’s solid. If you don’t knock him out, he keeps getting back up. He’s one guy you’re going to be in a hard fight with. When you’re in the ring with Fury, you’re going to have to dig deep. When you’re in with ‘AJ’ he has the power to knock out anyone.”

Joshua is set to return following minor elbow surgery later this year and is being linked with the likes of Wilder, while as of writing, Fury remains adamant he will not be making a comeback.

Keep Reading

Uncategorized

David Haye vs Anthony Joshua: Carl Froch Picks Clear Winner

By Al Faqiih June 19, 2025

We all have favourite fighters from different eras, and many of us imagine who’d won if they ever faced off. Carl Froch recently told Foot Italia and delivered his brutal verdict on who would have won between a prime David Haye and Anthony Joshua.

Anthony Joshua vs David Haye: Froch Delivers Brutal Take

Froch Explains Why Joshua Would Have Struggled

The legacy of David Haye (28-4, 26 KOs) and Anthony Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) is secure, with both winning world titles and being involved in many memorable fights. “Hayemaker” may have lost his last two fights to Tony Bellew but he entertained for many years, scoring noticeable wins over Derek Chisora, John Ruiz, Nikolai Valuev and Enzo Maccarinelli. Rumours swirl that we could see Joshua back in the ring in 2025, but whether he returns or not, his career has been exceptional, being a unified heavyweight champion on two occasions. His most memorable wins came against Wladimir Klitschko, Dillian Whyte, Joseph Parker and Andy Ruiz 2.

When asked to predict the hypothetical bout between Haye and AJ, Froch spoke about the strengths of both: “AJ has got a good one-two, and he was good under Rob McCracken. But David is a very clever, very cute fighter with explosive speed and power.”

Anthony Joshua vs Davis Haye

law nation sports: kenny stills nfl highlights, touchdowns & big plays

After speaking about the strengths of Haye and Joshua, Froch revealed his pic for the fantasy matchup: ” I think he’d beat AJ. David Haye would have knocked out AJ. Haye would have only struggled against AJ if he was still trained by McCracken, he was at his best after beating Wladimir Klitschko. McCracken shouldn’t have let AJ go near Usyk though. But fair play to AJ, he wanted to fight him and dared to be great.”

It remains to be seen what AJ still has left, but at his best, he was destructive, beating many good fighters. He’d have undoubtedly tried to control Haye and make him feel his power. Haye, in his prime, was elusive and dangerous. He carried freakish power and could land big shots from a variety of angles, and we feel the sharpness of Haye would give him the edge over AJ.

Keep Reading

Uncategorized

Carl Froch contradicts past Anthony Joshua comments as he

By Al Faqiih June 19, 2025

Carl Froch contradicts past Anthony Joshua comments as he blasts the boxer’s CV

Carl Froch has been an outspoken pundit since retiring from the sport in 2014, and this time he’s aimed his comments at Anthony Joshua.

The 2023 Hall of Famer left the sport after a knockout victory over bitter rival George Groves at Wembley Stadium, but since then, he’s taken to punditry, where his opinions have often been rather bold.

One such name that has been the focus of his criticism is former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.

Joshua and Froch are former gymmates who both trained under Team GB coach Rob McCracken.

Following his loss to Daniel Dubois, the former super middleweight felt the Watford fighter had ‘gone backwards’.

Carl Froch doesn’t believe Anthony Joshua has a ‘Hall of Fame’ career

Now, in his most recent comments, he has responded to claims that AJ has a Hall of Fame career.

Speaking on Froch On Fighting, he said: “He’s had a great career. His legacy will be bringing boxing back to the forefront.

“Bringing boxing to the mainstream audience, which is great, but he’s not had a Hall of Fame career in terms of who he’s beaten.

“Something that Eddie Hearn said about Anthony Joshua, he said he’s fought everyone? No, he hasn’t.”

He listed opponents such as Charles Martin, Francis Ngannou, Robert Helenius, and others as doing ‘no favours’ for his résumé.

The former world champion also slammed Joshua’s signature win against Wladimir Klitschko as the long-reigning title holder was ‘old’.

Froch contradicts original AJ comments from two years ago

However, these new comments on his opponents contradict the opinion the ‘Cobra’ held in 2023.

Prior to the Wallin fight, not only did the 47-year-old respond to claims he ‘hates’ AJ, but also his career.

On the TalkBoxing podcast, he said: “There is a misconception that ‘The Cobra’ is an AJ hater.

“People are forgetting me, and Anthony Joshua are friends; we used to train together.

“I’ve got nothing but respect for him because he’s had a fantastic career – check out his CV. He fought Oleksandr Usyk when he didn’t need to.”

It is hard to see whether these changes in opinions are the ones he holds towards the Olympic Gold medallist or his promoter, Eddie Hearn.

But the British boxing legend will no doubt scrutinise his former stablemate closely upon his potential in-ring return later this year.

Keep Reading

Uncategorized

Anthony Joshua coach finally explains controversial ‘roll the

By Al Faqiih June 19, 2025

Anthony Joshua coach finally explains controversial ‘roll the dice’ order in Daniel Dubois loss

Joshua was dropped four times by Dubois and stopped in the fifth round in September

Anthony Joshua’s coach Ben Davison has finally explained the controversial order to “roll the dice” in September’s defeat by Daniel Dubois.

In a packed-out Wembley Stadium, Dubois dropped his fellow Briton four times and sealed a fifth-round stoppage, retaining the IBF heavyweight title in the process.

Joshua, 35, has not fought since. While the former champion recovers from elbow surgery and considers shoulder treatment, 27-year-old Dubois is preparing to face unified champion Oleksandr Usyk.

That bout will take place on 19 July at Wembley, where Dubois dealt Joshua a brutal KO in the fifth round, after “AJ”’s corner gave a surprising order after the fourth frame.

With Joshua having been dropped once in each of the first, third and fourth rounds, many observers felt that the Olympic gold medalist needed to use the fifth round to recover. If successful, Joshua could perhaps have sought a finish later in the fight, yet Davison and his team encouraged Joshua to “roll the dice”.

Many fans and pundits interpreted that messaging as Davison and co urging Joshua to take an unnecessary risk. However, Davison has suggested it was a specific reference to a combination: a double-jab and right uppercut.

Responding to an observation made by Dubois’s ex-coach Shane McGuigan on commentary, Davison told Talksport: “It didn’t [play out as McGuigan predicted], though. He’s saying that Daniel’s putting a right hand behind the double. So, he’s saying Daniel Dubois throws a double-jab then a right [straight].

“He would be 100 per cent correct; Daniel was throwing that throughout the fight. We’ve asked AJ to throw a double-jab and bring it up the middle. Daniel was defending AJ’s right hand by ducking underneath it; therefore, if he’s ducking underneath your right hand, the correct adjustment is to let him dip onto the right uppercut.

“‘Roll the dice’ is like… that was something that he’d worked on throughout camp: double-jab, bring it up the middle. Because against [Filip] Hrgovic, again, he was so often – sorry, let me finish… He was regularly getting underneath Hrgovic’s right hand.

“Hrgovic then started to throw an uppercut but wasn’t bringing his feet in to be close enough to deliver the shot.” Hrgovic caught Dubois with many right straights last June, before the Briton turned the tide and scored a TKO, with a ringside doctor recommending that the referee should halt the bout.

Moments before Dubois landed his knockout blow on Joshua, AJ appeared to stun the younger boxer, before seemingly over-committing to an attempt to finish the fight. In the ensuing exchange, Dubois dropped Joshua for the final time, rendering AJ unable to beat the referee’s count.

Dubois was next scheduled to defend the IBF belt against Joseph Parker in February but withdrew on two days’ notice, citing illness. Parker went on to knock out Martin Bakole in two rounds.

While Parker’s next move is unclear, as is Joshua’s, Dubois now bids for revenge against Usyk, who recovered from a controversial low blow to stop him in 2023. Dubois’s team appealed the result, saying his low blow was in fact a legal body shot, but the appeal failed.

Joshua has been linked with numerous potential opponents since losing to Dubois. A long-awaited fight against Tyson Fury has been mooted, although the latter claimed in January that he has retired from boxing – not for the first time. Meanwhile, a rematch with old rival Dillian Whyte was recently mentioned, only for Whyte to sign to face Moses Itauma.

Keep Reading

Uncategorized

Joshua weighs in on Nigeria-Ghana rivalry

By Al Faqiih June 19, 2025

British-Nigerian boxing icon Anthony Joshua has sparked conversation around the longstanding Nigeria-Ghana rivalry after describing his recent visit to Accra as a revelation, suggesting that Nigerians had downplayed the West African neighbour’s charm, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The two-time unified world heavyweight champion was in Ghana for the Legacy RISE Sports: Battle of the Beasts boxing event, where he engaged in several activities, including a courtesy call on President John Mahama at the Jubilee House.

Speaking during the visit, Joshua admitted that he had not initially planned to visit Ghana, largely because of opinions he had heard in Nigeria.

He noted that his time in Accra had changed his perception completely.

“Coming to Ghana actually wasn’t on my agenda,” Joshua said.

“Because, for some reason, everyone in Nigeria puts Nigeria above Ghana. But I’m now here and I’m looking around like, they’ve been lying to me.”

His candid remark was met with laughter and applause from those present, highlighting the good-natured rivalry that often exists between citizens of both countries.

Since his arrival in Ghana on Friday, June 13, Joshua has taken part in several high-profile engagements as part of the sporting event spearheaded by Sharaf Mahama.

These included interactions with young athletes, public appearances, and meetings with dignitaries.

Visibly impressed by what he encountered, Joshua commended the country’s infrastructure, culture and hospitality. He said the experience had shifted his views significantly.

“I’m impressed with your beautiful country, amazing culture, hospitality, the airport, the organisation, and I can’t wait to go back and tell everyone across the world how beautiful this place is,” he added.

Keep Reading

Uncategorized

New revelation made about Anthony Joshua’s KO defeat by Daniel Dubois

By Al Faqiih June 18, 2025

The former two-time heavyweight world champion was battered from start to finish against Dubois – with Joshua’s trainer now opening up on preparations for the contest

Anthony Joshua’s trainer Ben Davison has revealed that the British star was ‘very late’ to his fight with Daniel Dubois last September.

Heading into the showdown at Wembley Stadium, Joshua was riding a four fight winning streak – which included wins over Francis Ngannou and Otto Wallin. The 35-year-old failed in his quest to become a three-time heavyweight champion after losing to Dubois.

Joshua was dropped multiple times before being stopped in the fifth round. It seemed likely that the pair would go head-to-head in an immediate rematch, but ‘AJ’ suffered some minor injuries in the initial encounter that forced him to take some time away from the ring.

The former two-time world champion was a big favourite going into the contest – with many pondering exactly what went wrong for Joshua soon after the dust-up. In an interview with talkSPORT, Davison explained that preparations for the fight were far from ideal.

“This isn’t an excuse, he’s never mentioned it and it’s not the reason we lost,” he said. “He was very very late arriving to the dressing room before the fight for unforeseen circumstances. It was a major rush which wasn’t ideal. Maybe that had an impact on his ring walk, I can’t say yes or no.

“Again it’s not an excuse, but if what you guys were seeing is true, maybe the fact he was late then that didn’t help. The fights before we had an extremely long warm-up, this time it was the complete opposite. But this time it was a big rush, although it wasn’t why he lost.”

Joshua is looking to return to the ring before the end of the year after having elbow surgery. His promoter Eddie Hearn revealed that his star client could return anytime between October and December. ‘AJ’ is still targeting an all-British showdown with Tyson Fury amid talks of the ‘Gypsy King’ potentially making a stunning return to action.

Hearn himself is still holding out hope that Fury will make a retirement U-turn and fight his star client. The Boxing promoter told DAZN: “It’s probably three fights away. For me, if I’m advising AJ, we’re back this year, we have two Tyson Fury fights, what else is there to do? Maybe fight a Daniel Dubois, but for me once AJ fights Tyson Fury, he’s kind of done it all.

“I’d love him to have another crack at Daniel Dubois and I’d love him to have another crack at Usyk but you just keep going on and on and on. Now, if we get to next year and he’s still firing on all cylinders then 2026 won’t be his last year. But for me, something feels right about coming back this year, beating Tyson Fury twice and then sailing off into the sunset.”

There are still some intriguing match-ups for Joshua and while Davison believes a discussion will need to be held over his next move, he is open to going straight for championship glory once again. “I’m not a massive fan of the ‘everybody needs activity,'” he continued. “It’s not ideal after the injury, it’s hard to say the likes of Deontay Wilder is a tune-up fight. There are discussions that would need to happen, but his goal is to become a three-time heavyweight world champion.”

Keep Reading

Anthony Joshua