Anthony Joshua’s Road to Recovery
Anthony Joshua, the former unified heavyweight champion, is currently recovering from elbow surgery and contemplates his return to the boxing ring later this year. A highly anticipated clash against fellow Briton Tyson Fury stands out among potential matchups.
Potential Match Against Tyson Fury
Joshua and Fury, both prominent figures in the heavyweight division, have long been rumored to face each other, but the bout has yet to materialize. Following Fury’s dual defeats to Oleksandr Usyk last year for the undisputed heavyweight title, fans hoped for a renewed opportunity to schedule the fight. However, Fury unexpectedly declared his retirement in January, leading to speculation about whether he would actually step back into the ring.
Earlier this month, he seemed to hint at a possible return, but later reaffirmed his retirement via social media, stating, “This is what retirement looks like for the Gypsy King. I’m under no pressure to resume boxing, and frankly, I’m happy being retired. I have nothing to prove and nothing to return for.”
Joshua’s Future Fights
Given the current uncertainty surrounding Fury’s career plans, Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, shared insights into Joshua’s future fights. Hearn indicated to ESPN that Joshua anticipates only one fight this year, targeting a mid-September return. He emphasized that Joshua’s opponent will hinge on Fury’s decision as well as the outcome of the upcoming bout between Daniel Dubois and Oleksandr Usyk.
“If both of them aren’t on the table, we will pursue other options. Joshua harbors a desire to rectify his surprising fifth-round loss to Dubois last September, but if a fight with Fury becomes viable, that would take priority.”
Speculations on Fury and Other Opportunities
Hearn expressed skepticism regarding the permanence of Fury’s retirement, suggesting that the allure of a match against Joshua could draw Fury back into the ring. He stated,
“It’s difficult to walk away from a fight against someone like Anthony Joshua when you still possess your skills. Thus, I believe we will see that fight happen eventually.”
Additionally, a bout against Deontay Wilder also remains a potential opportunity for Joshua. The idea of a Joshua-Wilder match has been discussed in recent years, particularly before Joshua became the unified champion while Wilder held the WBC title. Prior negotiations faltered due to financial disagreements, but with Wilder facing adverse outcomes in previous bouts against Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang, the door for a fight may reopen.
If Wilder manages to secure a decisive victory against his upcoming opponent, Tyrrell Herndon, a fight with Joshua could again be within reach. Hearn stated, “If Wilder returns looking impressive, then the conversation will likely resume. It’s an intriguing potential match-up, but our primary focus remains on Fury and possibly Dubois if he gets past Usyk.”
