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Anthony Joshua is plotting his route back to the top of the heavyweight division after almost a year out.

Joshua’s last outing was a devastating KO loss to IBF World Champion Daniel Dubois back in September last year. It came after four solid wins over Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius, Francis Ngannou and Otto Wallin following back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk.

The former two-time world champion is looking to return for one last hurrah, with many hoping there is still a chance he takes on the currently retried Tyson Fury before the end of his career.

Speaking to The Ariel Helwani Show, promoter Eddie Hearn laid out some potential comeback opponents, including 25-year-old American knockout artist Jared Anderson.

“Yeah Dillian Whyte was probably the front runner to be honest, but now it looks like he’s gonna fight Moses so that was a curve ball.

“Jared Anderson has been mentioned. Obviously, Deontay Wilder is back soon. I think ‘AJ’ would have been out the ring just over a year by the time he steps back in the ring, he will be coming off surgery. I don’t think Fury is going to be ready to fight around that time anyway. I expect it will be someone who is going to gear him up for a really big fight in 2026 and probably 2026 will be his last year in the sport.”

Anderson was building up a fine head of steam in 2023 and 204. He got to 16 wins, 14 by KO, but then stepped up against Martin Bakole, who stopped him inside five rounds in August last year. In February 2025, Anderson returned to winning ways with a points win over Marios Kollias, though did not look his destructive best.

Turki Alalshikh still wants Tyson Fury to box Anthony Joshua this year, but the Saudi adviser is trying not to push the “Gypsy King”, it seems.

In January, Fury announced he was retiring from boxing, after numerous reversed retirements in recent years. The claim came one month after his second loss to Oleksandr Usyk, who outpointed the Briton in May and December.

On Saturday, Joshua sat close to Alalshikh at the latest Riyadh fight night, while Fury was nowhere to be seen. Alalshikh later stressed that he still wants to see an all-British clash between the heavyweights, and that he is in contact with Fury – but not about the fight.

“I want Tyson [next for Joshua],” Alalshikh told the The Stomping Ground. “I spoke with him, but I don’t talk about boxing. I just check about his health and his family.

“I think maybe he’ll return. Yes ,[I think he will return], I hope so.”

On Saturday, Joseph Parker knocked out Martin Bakole in two rounds, after the latter replaced IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois on two days’ notice.

Dubois, who knocked out Joshua in September to retain the belt, withdrew from his defence against Parker due to illness. Joshua said on Saturday that he wanted to step in but could not, owing to injuries.

“He’s a fighter, that’s what he’s supposed to do,” Joshua said of Bakole. “I wanted to step in, I got my injuries.

“I get Martin Bakole’s mentality. If you got the belief and that power that Bakole has, that’s all you need. He wouldn’t have taken this fight if he’s not ready. I think he believes in himself more than his fitness. I just think he believes in himself.”

Joshua already holds a win over Parker, having beaten the New Zealander on points in 2018 to win the WBO heavyweight title.

The former two-time heavyweight champion has hinted at a return to the ring despite calling it quits after back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk

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.

Anthony Joshua’s professional boxing record (as of 15/06/25)
32 fights 28 wins 4 losses
By knockout 25 2
By decision 3 2

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:

“In an ideal world, we’d like to fight in November/December and then have two Tyson Fury fights in 2026.”

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

Anthony Joshua

 

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:

“It was gonna be Dillian Whyte, probably, but looks like he’s fighting Moses [Itauma]. Jared Anderson, Deontay Wilder, I don’t know.”

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.

Carl Froch had his say on wether Anthony Joshua should come back after his knockout loss to Daniel Dubois and questions Eddie Hearn’s plan.

With Anthony Joshua’s future in boxing uncertain, former world champion Carl Froch believes he is finished.

Joshua has had a three-fight plan revealed by promoter Eddie Hearn as he heads towards the end of his career, but Froch believes ‘AJ’’s loss to Dubois is all she wrote. 

In a recent upload to his YouTube channel – Froch on Fighting – ‘The Cobra’ launched a strong assessment on Joshua’s career and where he should go from here. 

Joshua and Froch are former training partners with the Nottingham man being coached by Rob McCracken at the same time ‘AJ’ was training at the England Institute of Sport in Sheffield. 

Froch saw Joshua in his promising amateur days but sees the Olympic winner’s career as good as done. 

“He has had his career, he’s made his money, and he has got found out.

“As soon as he stepped up in class he got flattened

“He has been ironed out, finished, El Sparko against Dubois that for me is all she wrote.

That should be the end of ‘AJ’s career

 “I’ve got no interest in it, I don’t wanna see him fight again.”

Eddie Hearn recently featured on Journalist, Ariel Helwani’s talk show and proposed a plan for Joshua as “2026 will probably be his last year in the sport.”

The 46-year-old remains hopeful of an all-British mega fight between ‘AJ’ and Tyson Fury despite ‘The Gypsy King’ remaining retired for the time being. 

He also proposed Joshua go for revenge against Daniel Dubois, who knocked him out in their fight last September.

Froch didn’t seem interested in this plan as he believes Fury will not come out of retirement and said Joshua would not beat Dubois if they fought again.

It’s obviously a cash-out plan, he wants to fight fury twice then he wants to fight Daniel Dubois again.

“I don’t think the Tyson Fury fight is happening anyway, Tyson Fury is a messer isn’t he.

“I think he’s (Fury) done, he’s finished, he has £200,000,000 or whatever he’s got, he’s not gonna fight again.

“He will still make noise and talk bit of bollocks, but I don’t think he is coming out of retirement anytime soon.

“He wants not one fight but two fights with Tyson Fury, Eddie Hearn really is trying to get the old Bunsen burner, isn’t he?

“Talk about cashing out, this is a f**king proper cash-out, isn’t it?

This would be like winning the Euro Lottery on the way home. 

I don’t think he will even get one fight with fury I think he’s done. I made that clear. 

A fight with Daniel Dubois, forget it, Daniel Dubois f**king flattens him again.

He cannot beat Daniel Dubois; he would frighten to death of getting hit on the chin.

he will get hit on the chin and when he does, he will be rendered unconscious again.”

Froch discussed some other possible fights for Joshua, including Moses Itauma, Dillian Whyte and Joseph Parker, but remained uninterested.

“Who do we say ‘AJ’ fights? We’ve got Parker. I mean I think Parker beats him.

We have Dillian Whyte, but he’s going backwards, isn’t he? He beat him ten years ago.

Dillian Whyte, I think, is about finished and he wants to fight Moses Itauma.

I think Moses Itauma is gonna absolutely outclass and probably flatten Dillian Whyte and that’ll be the end of him.

I wouldn’t put ‘AJ’ in with Itauma because for me that’ll be another beatdown.”

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 pundit Carl Froch has advised Anthony Joshua to avoid a rematch with Daniel Dubois, fearing another devastating defeat.

Froch’s comments come after Dubois brutally knocked out Joshua in the fifth round of their heavyweight world title clash at Wembley last September.

Joshua notably turned down the opportunity to immediately avenge that loss and recently underwent elbow surgery, delaying his return to the gym.

Meanwhile, Dubois is set to make his first appearance since last autumn when he faces Oleksandr Usyk in a highly anticipated rematch at the national stadium next month, aiming to avenge his stoppage defeat by the Ukrainian two years ago.

While Joshua is targeting a return to the ring later this year, potentially against Tyson Fury if the latter reverses his retirement decision, Froch believes a second encounter with Dubois would be ill-advised.

“Another fight with Daniel Dubois? Forget it. Daniel Dubois will flatten him again,” Froch declared on his YouTube channel. “He can’t beat Daniel Dubois; he will be frightened to death of getting hit on the chin, and when he does, he will be rendered unconscious again.”

Joshua has remained calm about his next opponent as Fury continues to insist on his retirement, having hung up his gloves in January after two consecutive defeats to Usyk. Other potential opponents for Joshua include a rematch with Dillian Whyte or a possible August clash with rising star Moses Itauma.

Adding to the speculation surrounding Joshua’s future, his promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed that the Olympic champion could retire as early as next year. Hearn believes that a confrontation with long-term rival Tyson Fury is the final frontier for Joshua before he hangs up his gloves

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.

Eddie Hearn and Anthony Joshua

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.

“He hit my hand before he hit my face and I felt it, I felt the punch but it wasn’t [enough to put knock me down.

“I went to my corner, I never came back from that, from there I don’t remember when l left the stool to get into the second round.

“I remember exactly what happened until I got to the stool. I remember sitting there and I started to have blurry vision.

“The guy in front of me [the cornerman) was speaking to me and then the voice was getting distant.

“I don’t know if it was the fatigue, but something wasn’t right.”

Anthony Joshua has not fought since he was wiped out by Daniel Dubois last September – but is eyeing a return to the ring later this year

Carl Froch has told Anthony Joshua to avoid a rematch with Daniel Dubois like the plague.

Joshua was knocked out in devastating fashion by his fellow Brit at Wembley last September as Dubois retained his heavyweight world title with a fifth-round stoppage. Joshua turned down the opportunity to immediately avenge his defeat and recently had surgery on his elbow which has delayed his return to the gym.

Dubois will fight for the first time since last autumn when he rematches Oleksandr Usyk at the national stadium next month as he attempts to avenge his stoppage defeat by the Ukrainian two years ago. Joshua, meanwhile, is targeting a return later this year – potentially against Tyson Fury if his fellow Brit reverses his decision to retire.

And Joshua has been advised to forget any desire he has to run back his clash with Dubois. “Another fight with Daniel Dubois, forget it, Daniel Dubois, f***ing flattens him again,” Froch said on his YouTube channel. “He can’t beat Daniel Dubois, he will be frightened to death of getting hit on the chin, and when he does, he will be rendered unconscious again.”

Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois

Joshua has been coy about his next fight as Fury continues to insist he will remain retired having hung up his gloves in January following his second successive defeat by Usyk. Joshua has also been linked with a rematch with Dillian Whyte but he may instead take on rising star Moses Itauma in August.

And Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed the Olympic champion could hang up his gloves as soon as next year. Hearn believes taking on long-term rival Fury is the one thing left for Joshua to do before calling it a day. “Probably 2026 will be his last year in the sport,” Hearn said on The Ariel Helwani Show.

“I mean 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?’. He maybe could fight a Daniel Dubois, but I think for me, once AJ fights a Tyson Fury, he’s kind of done it all.

“I’d love him to have another crack at Dubois, I’d love him to have another crack at (Oleksandr) Usyk. If we get to 2026 and he’s firing on all cylinders then 2026 won’t be his last year. But for me, something feels right about beating Tyson Fury twice and then sailing off into the sunset.”