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Anthony Joshua ‘in discussions’ over two-fight deal with bizarre opponent named

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Anthony Joshua 

Anthony Joshua is in discussion with Riyadh Season over a bumper two-fight deal, according to the Brit’s promoter Eddie Hearn.

The Watford powerhouse hasn’t stepped foot in the ring since his devastating knockout loss to Daniel Dubois last September.

Both parties had entered into negotiations to stage a rematch, however, AJ opted to undergo surgery on an elbow injury instead.

Dubois has since gone on to land an undisputed showdown with Oleksandr Usyk on July 19, while Joshua ponders his next steps as he continues his rehabilitation.

Earlier this week, NoSmoke Sport reported that Joshua was working on a three-fight deal with Turki Alalshikh – the Saudi powerbroker behind the money-spinning Riyadh Season bills.

Responding to the report during an interview with BoxingScene, Hearn said: “Yeah, that’s not true, we are actually discussing a two-fight deal with Riyadh Season.

“We’ve been doing that, [Turki Alalshikh] said that on the night of Canelo [vs. William Scull, May 3], when we had our meeting, and that’s the plan really.

“We want to box sometime this year, October, November, December.”

Discussing potential opponents, Hearn added: “We’ll see what happens with Dubois-Usyk, we’ll see what happens with Fury.

“And if we don’t fight those guys, we’ll fight, and then maybe we’ll follow one of those guys next year.”

Hearn then confirmed that Dillian Whyte and Jared Anderson are in the running as well.

“Two guys that have been discussed, but nothing concrete,” Hearn said of Whyte and Anderson.

The fact that Whyte has been mentioned doesn’t come as much of a surprise, given the history between the pair.

Anthony Joshua

However, a possible bout with Anderson seems a bizarre choice.

The American was once hailed as ‘the future of the heavyweight division’, but he has since been widely written off after falling to the first defeat of his professional career against Martin Bakole last August.

It therefore seems an unnecessary risk to fight the Ohio puncher while his stock is so low.

Joshua wouldn’t gain much recognition in victory, while suffering a defeat would be catastrophic at this stage in his career.

Ultimately, the fight everyone wants to see is Joshua vs Fury.

Whether the all-British showdown can get over the line for the back end of this year remains to be seen.

‘The Gypsy King’ recently insisted that he will ‘stay retired’, although rumours of him planning a comeback are rife.

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Brian Norman Confident Terence Crawford Will Outpoint ‘Slipping’ Canelo Alvarez

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Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford 
Brian Norman Jr.’s personal interactions with Terence Crawford aren’t solely responsible for him picking him to upset Canelo Alvarez.
The unbeaten WBO welterweight champion considers himself a Canelo fan as well. Based on what he has seen from both recently, however, Norman is convinced Crawford is more than capable of outpointing the Mexican icon when they fight for Alvarez’s Ring, IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO super middleweight titles Sept. 13 at a venue to be determined.
Most sportsbooks have Alvarez listed as approximately a 2-1 favorite to win, in part because Crawford will move up two weight classes — from 154 pounds to 168 — to become a champion in a fifth division.
“I actually got my boy Crawford on that,” Norman told The Ring. “I feel like what I just said about my mental [makeup], how dedicated I am to the game or whatever, Crawford is in this thing, regarding how dedicated he is to this boxing stuff. He is disciplined.
“He is another one of those disciplined fighters along with Floyd Mayweather, Bernard Hopkins, Marvin Hagler that are just straight disciplined to the game of boxing year-round. So, I feel he definitely got the attitude and mentality to go out there and beat Canelo.”
Multidimensional, smart and tenacious, Crawford remains undefeated 17 years into his professional career (41-0, 31 KOs). The Omaha, Nebraska, native is 37, yet still occupies the third spot on The Ring’s pound-for-pound list, behind only Ring/WBA/WBC/WBO heavyweight champ Oleksandr Usyk (23-0, 14 KOs) and undisputed junior featherweight champ Naoya Inoue (30-0, 27 KOs).
Norman gained invaluable experience when he sparred with Crawford in September 2021. Crawford checks in on Norman (27-0, 21 KOs, 1 NC) from time to time and attended his last fight — a third-round stoppage of Puerto Rico’s Derrick Cuevas (27-2-1, 19 KOs) on March 29 at Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford 
Five weeks later, Norman fell asleep during the second round of Alvarez’s unfathomably boring 12-round, unanimous points victory over Cuba’s William Scull (23-1, 9 KOs).
“I was watching the fight,” Norman said. “Next thing I know, I wake up and it’s Terence Crawford and Canelo doing the face-off with each other. I didn’t know what was going on. But I went back and watched the highlights of the fight, to find out there was no highlights. I know for a fact Crawford not going for that.”
Alvarez’s uninspiring performance May 3 at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, reinforced Norman’s concerns about how Alvarez, 34, approaches his career these days. Guadalajara’s Alvarez (63-2-2, 39 KOs) is No. 8 on The Ring’s pound-for-pound list, but his unenthusiastic outing versus Scull and his unwillingness to box undefeated David Benavidez have drawn intense criticism.
“The crazy part is I’m actually a Canelo fan as well,” Norman said. “I feel like just over time … he on the decline. He not doing the stuff he used to do. Him versus Cotto is my favorite Canelo fight. He had the head movement, the feet, the defense. He was literally doing all the combos.
“Lately, he been having the silk sheets and silk this and silk that, and it’s like he don’t want it as bad as he used to. Just because you made weight and you got this and you got that, that don’t mean nothing. Push yourself how you used to. So, Canelo my dog, but lately he been slipping.”
Norman, of Conyers, Georgia, is The Ring’s No. 1 welterweight contender for champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis (34-0, 30 KOs, 1 NC), who also owns the IBF and WBA 147-pound championships. Norman, 24, is scheduled to defend his WBO belt, a crown Crawford vacated last year to move up to junior middleweight, against Japanese contender Jin Sasaki (19-1-1, 17 KOs) on June 19 at Ota City General Gymnasium in Tokyo.
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Eddie Hearn Questions Terence Crawford’s Resume, Predicts Canelo vs Crawford Fight

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Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford 
Eddie Hearn doubts Terence Crawford’s resume ahead of his fight against Canelo Alvarez.

Terence Crawford will challenge Canelo Alvarez for the undisputed super middleweight title on September 13. And the fight between two of the best pound-for-pound boxers has fans hooked already.

Canelo Alvarez is 63-2-2 with 39 knockout wins. He is a four-division world champion and a two-time undisputed super middleweight king. Terence Crawford, meanwhile, boasts an unblemished 41-0-0 record with 31 KO wins.

Like Canelo, he is a four weight world champion, previously holding the undisputed belt in two of those divisions. Overall, it’s a clash of titans. Eddie Hearn, though, has questioned Crawford’s resume, claiming ‘Bud’ doesn’t necessarily have the big name win.

Speaking to YSM Sports Media, the Matchroom Boxing head said:

The problem is with ‘Bud’, and I said this to him on the flight, ‘You never got the chance to build an amazing resume because there’s no one for you to fight.’ I was winding him up, ‘Tell me your best win.’ He’s like, ‘Ricky Burns’, that’s what he said.

Hearn added:

Ricky Burns is my fighter, three-division world champion. But, I said, ‘he’s a great fighter, Ricky Burns but he’s not gonna go down in history, Ricky Burns, as an all-time great. You’re telling me that is your best win?’

Finally, Hearn added that “Bud could beat all the greats, but he never really got the chance.”

Predicting Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford, Hearn said:

After watching Canelo against Scull, I know it’s Scull, I think he [Crawford] is the fresher guy in there. I very rarely back against Canelo Alvarez but it would not surprise me at all if Crawford won that fight.

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Claressa Shields Portends Gervonta Davis vs Lamont Roach Rematch:

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Claressa Shields and Gervonta Davis

Claressa Shields Portends Gervonta Davis vs Lamont Roach Rematch: “He’ll Be Even Better”

Claressa Shields has weighed in on the Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont Roach rematch.

Davis and Roach are expected to do battle again this summer following their controversial first meeting in March, which finished in a majority decision draw.

The biggest talking point from the fight came in the ninth round where ‘Tank’ voluntarily chose to take a knee, but no knockdown was scored.

If a 10-8 round had been scored in Roach’s favour, it would have been enough to earn him the win and see him become the new WBA lightweight champion, due to the final scorecards reading 115-113 Davis and 114-114 twice.

Multi-weight world champion Shields has now given her take on how a second fight between the two men would go, telling Fighthype that she believes Davis is capable of competing better.

“I think that Tank is a great fighter and Roach is a great fighter. They both had a good fight. I think Tank is going through things that we don’t know what he’s going through mentally…I wish him well and I think if he gets his mental together he’ll fight better.

“I think if Roach would have been more aggressive he would have won the fight clearly. I think he had some good counters, I’ve never seen somebody take punches from Tank and be able to still stand up. I don’t think I saw Roach get wobbled at all, I think I saw Tank get wobbled a couple times. I’ll be watching the rematch.”

In a separate interview with Fight Hub TV, Shields backed Roach to win when the pair run it back but says Davis can change that if he prepares mentally.

Claressa Shields and Gervonta Davis and Lamont Roach

“I think Lamont will be even better in the rematch … Right now, I think Roach wins the rematch, only because I think Tank needs to get his fear out the way.

“Sometimes anger helps you in a fight, you don’t want to completely lose it, you have to know how to use it. He’s so frustrated with other parts of his life that it’s hard for him to use all of it inside the ring. So I think therapy would help.”

Shields isn’t the only big name to make a prediction for the rematch, with former two-weight world champion Tim Bradley also offering his thoughts.

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Claressa Shields Implore For Gervonta Davis To Get Therapy Before Lamont Roach Rematch

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Claressa Shields took a powerful stance on Gervonta “Tank” Davis’ mental health in a recent interview.

Gervonta “Tank” Davis has been at the center of discussion among the boxing community ever since his controversial March 1 fight against Lamont Roach, which resulted in a majority draw and set the stage for a rematch later this summer. And most of this discussion has not been positive for the undefeated WBA lightweight champion.

When speaking with Sean Zittel on March 28, legendary boxing promoter Bob Arum said, “I think Davis has to start taking boxing seriously. You know, it’s not just a media kind of thing. I don’t know, I don’t know the kid. But he seemed sort of ordinary [against Roach].”

Undefeated women’s boxing pound-for-pound great Claressa Shields is more concerned about Davis’ mental space than his performance in the ring, which she conveyed during a March 28 interview with Fight Hub TV.

“I feel like Gervonta is a hell of a fighter, but I feel like he needs to get his mental together,” Shields said. “When I hear some of his interviews, and I see some of the stuff that he’s saying, I can just tell that he’s not in love with the sport no more.”

She later added, “I think he would be better, and even a better fighter, if he went and did therapy like ASAP. Because I can tell he’s a little sad, little depressed… he needs to take some serious time to deal with whatever he has to deal with.”

Shields concluded this part of her response by saying, “I think therapy would help [Davis in his rematch with Roach].”

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Where To From Here For Anthony Joshua?

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Anthony Joshua

He was once considered by some to be the big man in the heavyweight division, both literally and physically. Anthony Joshua was a statuesque, hard hitting Londoner who could literally sell out stadiums. Holding numerous heavyweight titles simultaneously, he was – for a short time, at least – the brightest of three shining divisional stars: himself, American Deontay Wilder, and fellow Brit Tyson Fury. What made Joshua particularly impressive was, after a stunning defeat to Andy Ruiz in his American debut, he changed styles in the rematch to defeat Ruiz handily. Known generally as a knockout artist up until that point, Joshua showed in the Ruiz rematch that he could add new wrinkles to his game.

Is seemed only natural that Joshua would take on Fury or Wilder – or both – at some point. It was not meant to be, however. For Joshua lost his titles to Oleksandr Usyk, then went on to lose to the Ukrainian for the second time in a rematch. In the meantime, Fury won a wonderous trilogy against Wilder, only to then be defeated twice by Usyk himself. Suffice to say a hoped for undisputed heavyweight title fight between Fury and Joshua fell through. Still, this spring, Team Joshua was still keen on seeing Joshua face Fury. What’s more, it looked like Fury might have still been keen on the fight himself. Last week, however, Fury let the world know via social media post, that he was retired and aimed to stay that way.

Anthony Joshua 

A dream deferred. The heavyweight division is, truth be told, experiencing a changing of the guard at the moment. Joshua, Fury and Wilder – the former three masters of the division – are all past their glory years. New blood is coming up – talented and exciting new blood. Even Usyk, the man who dusted Joshua and Fury, won’t be around much longer. The question, then is where to from here for Anthony Joshua? The man has had a great career and has made quite a bit of money for himself and his family. Boxing is tough. For instance, Joshua has recently been out of commission thanks to an injury to his elbow

Promoter Eddie Hearn plans on having Joshua fight this year, though, which means Joshua is clearly eager to keep going with his career. Who will he square off with, though? Joshua’s taken his share of shots throughout the course of his career. Such things need to be taken into consideration. Unless Fury changes his mind and decides to come back (and with the unpredictable Fury, one never knows), Joshua may feel pressure to battle one of the division’s young bucks – and that might not be the safest thing to do. Still, boxing is the sport where second acts do, in fact, occur. Perhaps Joshua will surprise the world.

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Joshua’s camp planning one 2025 fight, awaits Fury decision

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ANTHONY JOSHUA and Tyson Fury

Former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is sidelined after elbow surgery but has an eye on a few options when he returns to the ring this year.

Chief among those options is a highly anticipated all-British showdown with Tyson Fury. The two stars have been circling each other for years without a fight coming to fruition. After Fury’s back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight championship last year, it appeared that there was a window of opportunity to make the fight. However, that window was slammed shut by Fury, who abruptly announced his retirement in January. It appeared that Fury was teasing a return earlier this month, but he took to social media to state that he is happily retired.

“This is what retirement looks like for the Gypsy King,” Fury said in a post on Instagram. “Not too shabby. I’m in no rush at all to come back boxing, and get my face punched in for what? What would I return for? I asked that question. So here we are. I’m retired and I’m staying retired. I’ve got nothing to prove to anybody and nothing to return for.”

With the uncertainty surrounding Fury’s return, Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, addressed his fighter’s future once he returns.

“He’ll only fight once this year,” Hearn told ESPN. “He’ll be good to go in the middle of September, and by then, we will know for sure if Fury is going to return or not. But [Joshua’s opponent] will also depend on what happens in the [Daniel] Dubois vs. Usyk fight. I like our spot in that respect, and if none of them are available, we’re going to fight someone else.”

Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois 

Hearn said that Joshua, 35, would like to avenge his stunning fifth-round knockout loss to Dubois last September if the opportunity presents itself. But if the Fury fight surfaces, that is what they will target first. Hearn isn’t sure Fury’s retirement will stick, regardless of what the former heavyweight champion says on social media.

“I just don’t think he’ll be able to leave it alone,” Hearn said. “You know why? Because he’s not declining. He’s still at the peak of his powers and it’s very difficult to walk away from a fight like Anthony Joshua when you’ve still got it. And that’s why I believe it’ll happen.”

Another option for Joshua is a showdown with former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, 39. A Joshua-Wilder fight was discussed several years ago when Joshua was the unified champion and Wilder held the WBC title. The two sides couldn’t come to financial terms for the fight and went their separate ways. The two sides were aligned for a potential fight again in 2023 but Wilder was stopped in consecutive fights against Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang.

Should Wilder defeat journeyman Tyrrell Herndon in June, a Joshua-Wilder fight could be back on the table.

“If Wilder comes back and looks sensational, we’ll probably start talking about it again,” Hearn said. “I don’t rule it out at all. It’s always going to be an exciting fight, but certainly the focus is on Fury first and possibly Dubois if he can get through Usyk.”

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Anthony Joshua doesn’t hesitate when naming the greatest boxer

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Anthony Joshua

Anthony Joshua doesn’t hesitate when naming the greatest boxer of all time

Anthony Joshua didn’t need time to think when asked about the greatest boxer ever. His answer speaks volumes about legacy, dominance, and respect in the sport.

  • Boxing legend Roberto Duran names the greatest boxer in history
  • Boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard names the 3 greatest fighters in history
From picking up the gloves at 18 to standing atop the heavyweight division, Anthony Joshua has carved a remarkable path. His rise from Olympic gold in London 2012 to unifying world titles showcased both power and discipline. And even after setbacks, he’s never stopped chasing greatness.

Joshua’s journey has been defined by explosive knockouts, high-stakes bouts, and a determination to reclaim his place at the top. After setbacks against Andy Ruiz Jr. and Oleksandr Usyk, he has since rebounded with convincing stoppages over Otto Wallin, Robert Helenius, and Francis Ngannou.

In an interview with Men’s Health in 2023, Joshua made his personal pick for the greatest clear: “Historically, Ali. By a mile.” His selection of Muhammad Ali—the three-time world champion who defeated legends like Foreman, Frazier, and Liston—reflects the reverence with which Joshua views the sport’s history.

Ali’s legacy still sets the standard

Muhammad Ali was more than just a dominant fighter—he was a cultural icon whose impact extended well beyond the ropes. With a 61-fight career that included iconic victories and unmatched charisma, Ali remains the benchmark for greatness. His ability to transcend eras and leave a permanent mark on boxing is what cements his GOAT status in Joshua’s eyes.

Joshua looks to join elite company

Anthony Joshua

Joshua’s next step could bring him one title closer to matching that greatness. A bout with Daniel Dubois is scheduled for September at Wembley Stadium, with the IBF heavyweight title on the line. If victorious, Joshua would become a three-time heavyweight champion, something only a few in history—Ali included—have ever achieved

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Claressa Shields Reveals Her Pick For Gervonta Davis vs Lamont Roach Rematch

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Claressa Shields and Gervonta Davis and Lamont Roach

Women’s boxing champion Claressa Shields stated a clear case for why Gervonta “Tank” Davis will lose his rematch against Lamont Roach.

The boxing world is still buzzing about the March 1 fight between Gervonta “Tank” Davis and Lamont Roach Jr. for Davis’ WBA lightweight title.

Since this title fight was controversial and the majority draw decision didn’t produce a clear better fighter between these two, the boxing world is clamoring for a rematch. And all indications are that a Davis vs. Roach II fight will take place this summer, perhaps as early as June.

During a March 28 interview with Fight Hub TV, women’s boxing pound-for-pound great Claressa Shields said, “I feel like Gervonta is a hell of a fighter, but I feel like he needs to get his mental together… I think he would be better, and even a better fighter, if he went and did therapy like ASAP. Because I can tell he’s a little sad, little depressed.”

Later on in that same interview, Shields conveyed why she believes Roach is destined to win this eventual rematch against Tank.

Claressa Shields and Gervonta Davis and Lamont Roach Jr

“I think Lamont Roach did a great job in that fight. I think if he would have been a little more aggressive we would’ve really won, like a unanimous decision. But he kept stepping off the gas,” Shields said.

“Now that he knows we can take Tank’s punch, I think Lamont will be even better in the rematch, because he’s gonna take those punches, he’s gonna give those punches back, and he’s gonna step on the gas this fight.

“But right now, I think that Roach wins the rematch… only because I think Tank is so frustrated with other parts of his life that it’s hard for him to use all of it inside the ring,” Shields continued. She later added, “I guess I favor Lamont Roach in the rematch.”

It sounds like Shields will be tuned in like the rest of the boxing world when this rematch occurs.

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Anthony Joshua responds to Tyson Fury’s retirement comments

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Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury

Fury has stated that he is happily retired and there is no reason to return

Two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has responded to Tyson Fury’s recent retirement announcement, expressing his belief that their long-anticipated fight will still take place.

Joshua, who recently confirmed his return to the ring in December 2025, has not fought since his defeat to Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in September 2024, where he sustained injuries.

For years, Joshua and Fury have been linked to a blockbuster showdown. After Fury lost twice to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024, expectations grew that the Joshua-Fury fight could finally happen in 2025.

However, those hopes were dampened when Fury took to social media to announce his retirement, stating he is happily retired and sees no reason to return to boxing.

Amid swirling speculation and widespread rumors about a potential return to the ring, Tyson Fury decided to address the chatter head-on.

“I hear a lot of talk of the Gypsy King returning to boxing, and I ask the question: For what? More boxing belts? I’ve won 22 of them.

I’ve been beaten. That’s it, fair play to them. They’ve had their use of me, but I’m happy. I’m happy, content with what I’ve done, what I’ve achieved, what I’ve accomplished—been around the world and back again, and here we are.”

Despite Fury’s comments, Joshua remains optimistic. Sharing an image of Fury in the ring on social media, Joshua captioned it:

“One of these days it’ll be me standing in the opposite corner, ready and fully charged spiritually,” Joshua wrote.

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