Eddie Hearn has revealed a three-man shortlist for Anthony Joshua’s comeback fight – and a showdown with long-time rival Tyson Fury is not on the agenda.

Joshua was last seen in the ring in a fifth-round KO loss to compatriot Daniel Dubois as a devastating right-hand saw ‘AJ’ taken out in brutal fashion. ‘Dynamite’ Dubois floored the former two-time world heavyweight champion four times in their meeting at Wembley Stadium last September whilst adding a fourth loss to AJ’s record.

Ever since that setback, Joshua has been on the sidelines being treated for an injury to his elbow that required surgery and prevented a summer comeback. However, although those plans had to be scrapped, Hearn still expects to see his top fighter back in action before the end of 2025.

The Matchroom boss has previously admitted that he doesn’t expect Joshua to fight beyond the end of 2026, indicating that the Watford-born man could have just three bouts left in his career.

Speaking to IFL TV, Hearn confirmed:

Eddie Hearn Has Three Opponents in Mind For Anthony Joshua’s Next Fight

‘AJ’ is set to step back into the ring before the end of 2025

Boxing fans around the world have waited for years to see Joshua and Fury finally settle the score. Despite rumours that 2025 might finally be the year when the pair step into the ring, ‘The Gypsy King’ is seemingly not under consideration as AJ’s next foe – not least because he insists that he is still retired from the sport.

With Dubois set to tangle with Oleksandr Usyk on the 19th of July, both reigning heavyweight champions are out of the question, too. When asked about who was in the mix to face Joshua before the end of this year, Hearn explained:

In response to the suggestion by the interviewer that Zhilei Zhang could be a potential suitor, Hearn responded, saying, “It’s not a fight we’ve thought about. He just got beat, but I don’t see a problem with that fight.”

Dillian Whyte, who faces Slovakian-British fighter Moses Itauma on the 16th of August, previously fought AJ some ten years ago, a bout which saw Whyte lose via TKO at the O2 Arena in London. That booking would seem to rule ‘The Body Snatcher’ out of a 2025 rematch with Joshua, although if he was to emerge from that fight relatively unscathed, Joshua vs Whyte 2 might still take place.

American heavyweight Jared Anderson is very much a contender for the slot, having bounced back from his loss to Martin Bakole with a unanimous decision victory over Marios Kollias earlier this year.

Deontay Wilder is scheduled to face Tyrrell Anthony Herndon at the end of June, a year on from his TKO loss to Zhang. Joshua and Wilder have been lined up to fight on many occasions, but the fight has always fallen apart just when it looked like becoming a reality. If it is ever going to happen, it needs to do so soon.

None of the above fights will see Joshua achieve his goal of becoming a three-time world heavyweight champion. However, a strong performance would either put him in prime position for a shot at Usyk or Dubois or prove the ideal set up for the two bouts with Fury that Hearn is keen to put together in 2026.

Anthony Joshua lights up Ghana ahead of “Battle of the Beasts” at Bukom Boxing Arena

British heavyweight boxing sensation Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua has arrived in Ghana, igniting excitement among fans as he gears up to attend the highly anticipated “Battle of the Beasts” boxing event at the iconic Bukom Boxing Arena tonight.

The two-time former unified world heavyweight champion, known for his charisma and prowess in the ring, was spotted showcasing Ghanaian dance moves and even playfully riding a fan’s motorcycle, endearing himself to the vibrant local crowd.

The event, organized by Legacy Rise Sports and spearheaded by CEO Sharaf Mahama, son of Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama, promises to be a landmark night for boxing in Ghana.

Dubbed the “biggest boxing event in recent times,” the “Battle of the Beasts” will feature ten high-stakes bouts, showcasing a blend of Ghanaian talent and international contenders at the 4,000-seat Bukom Boxing Arena, a venue renowned for producing legends like Azumah Nelson and Ike Quartey.

Joshua, born on October 15, 1989, in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, to Nigerian parents, Robert and Yeta Joshua, is no stranger to the global boxing stage. Rising from an amateur career that saw him win a gold medal at the ABA Championships and a silver at the 2011 World Amateur Boxing Championships, Joshua has become a household name in the heavyweight division.

His presence in Ghana underscores his commitment to supporting the sport’s growth in Africa, particularly in a boxing hotbed like Bukom, a coastal neighborhood in Accra that has produced eight world champions.

One highlight of the undercard is the clash between rising star Abubakar Kamoko, known as “Bukom Tilapia” and son of Ghanaian boxing icon Bukom Banku, and Stephen Ackon, promising a thrilling showdown.

While Joshua is not fighting tonight, his appearance is a major coup for the event, which is also backed by Amir Khan Promotions.

The “Battle of the Beasts” comes at a poignant time for Ghana’s boxing community, still reeling from the tragic loss of Nigerian boxer Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju, who collapsed and passed away during a bout at the same arena in March 2025.

Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has disclosed that Anthony Joshua is likely to retire next year after three more fights.

Hearn has masterminded Joshua’s professional career right from the start, when he turned over following his Olympic Games gold medal at London 2012.

The two-time world heavyweight champion is still planning his next move, having not fought since a damaging knockout defeat by fellow Briton Daniel Dubois nine months ago.

Hearn, who spoke

on Ariel Helwani Show, admitted that the clock is ticking for Nigerian-born-British boxer.

“Probably 2026 will be his last year in the sport,” Matchroom boss Hearn told the Ariel Helwani Show.

“You never know, but thinking about it, it’s probably three fights away. If I’m advising AJ I’m thinking, ‘We’re back this year, two Tyson Fury fights, what else is there to do?’.

Brutal Anthony Joshua KO saw medics storm ring in most frightening thing I’ve ever seen in boxing

Eddie Hearn named Anthony Joshua’s KO of Francis Ngannou as the best he has ever seen while sat ringside.

Hearn has watched every step of Joshua’s career live from ringside, having promoted the two-time heavyweight world champion since his debut in October 2013.

Joshua is a notorious KO artist who has left some of the very best operators flat on their back using his notorious punching power.

He has flattened the likes of Wladimir Klitschko and Dillian Whyte during his stellar time in the paid ranks.

But Hearn has named his devastating stoppage of Ngannou in 2023 as the best KO and most frightening thing he’s seen while watching squared circle action.

He told talkSPORT.com: “The best one I’ve seen, not pound-for-pound credibility wise was Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou.

“It was the most frightening thing I’ve ever seen, particularly when I got in the ring afterwards.”

Hearn also named Leigh Wood’s KO victory over Michael Conlan in February 2023 and Alexander Povetkin’s KO of Dillian Whyte in 2020 as two notable favourites.

Joshua is a boxing superstar and that has largely been down to his entertaining fan-friendly punching style.

Ngannou was largely an unknown entity taking on Joshua in his second ever boxing fight after making the switch from the UFC.

But ‘The Predator’ was himself known as perhaps the most powerful puncher, particularly given he had floored Tyson Fury in his boxing debut just months before.

Although it wasn’t to be anywhere near enough with Joshua dispatching of Ngannou in the most emphatic way possible.

Joshua had knocked Ngannou down, but it was the second right hand which put his rival to sleep.

The MMA specialist was out cold before he even touched the canvas.

And medics stormed the ring to check on the welfare of Ngannou, who was fine after receiving treatment.

Despite the incredible punch which was heard by those ringside, Joshua’s opponent believes there was other factors which contributed to the devastating shot.

Ngannou added: “I got into the ring and I wasn’t feeling myself. The first round when he knocked me down I was like, ‘Did I slip?’ What exactly knocked me down? I felt the punch but it wasn’t the punch that knocked me down.

“I really got confused at that time. I was like ‘Damn, what?’ But from that moment I got knocked down with a punch that wasn’t that hard.

Boxing promoter, Eddie Hearn, has said Anthony Joshua could stop fighting next year.

He admitted Joshua could have only three more fights left.

Hearn has guided the British boxer’s professional career since he won the Olympic Games gold at London 2012.

The two-time world heavyweight champion is still planning his next move, having not fought since a damaging knockout defeat by fellow Briton Daniel Dubois nine months ago.

“Probably 2026 will be his last year in the sport,” Matchroom boss Hearn told the Ariel Helwani Show.

“You never know, but thinking about it, it’s probably three fights away.

“If I’m advising AJ I’m thinking, ‘We’re back this year, two Tyson Fury fights, what else is there to do?”