Anthony Joshua’s Comeback Plans
Inside the boxing community, speculation abounds regarding Anthony Joshua’s comeback plans following his knockout loss to Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium last year. The former world heavyweight champion is eager to return and is considering a path that could lead to a high-profile bout with Tyson Fury.
Uncertain Next Steps
However, the details of Joshua’s next steps remain uncertain, as several intriguing possibilities are emerging. Promoter Eddie Hearn shed light on three circulating rumors concerning Joshua’s future movements. Since his defeat, Joshua has been trained by Ben Davison, but he recently attended Oleksandr Usyk’s training camp in Spain. Usyk, the undisputed heavyweight champion and a former rival of Joshua, is preparing there. While it may raise questions about Joshua seeking guidance from Usyk’s team, Hearn indicated that no formal shift in trainers has been decided yet.
“AJ enjoys exploring different training environments around the world, which is what he’s currently doing,” Hearn explained. “He visited Usyk’s camp but nothing official concerning any trainer changes has been decided. Any updates will come straight from Joshua himself.”
Potential Matchups
In a surprise twist, YouTuber and boxer Jake Paul has stated that he is interested in facing Joshua. Paul described this potential match-up as risky, given the significant weight discrepancy (he fought at 200 lbs, while Joshua was 52 lbs heavier in his last match). Hearn did not rule out a matchup with Paul, saying,
“If Joshua needs a fight for practice, why not do it against Jake for a big purse? Discussions have occurred, but there’s no contract yet. We are primarily focused on aiming for the heavyweight championship, particularly against Fury.”
Future Fight Scheduling
Hearn sparked enthusiasm with his comments about the scheduling of Joshua’s fights. Rumors suggest that Joshua could still step into the ring in 2025. Matchroom Boxing has dates lined up for December, including a bout in Ghana on the 17th, which aligns with Joshua’s ambition to fight in Africa.
“The timeline for Joshua’s next fight is flexible, and while he could potentially fight as early as February – possibly against Paul or on another Matchroom event – no specifics are set yet. I’ve noted he could fight this year, but that has led to confusion about venues.”
Hearn concluded with hints of future opportunities for Joshua in Africa as discussions are underway for a fight there in 2026.
Conclusion
Overall, the boxing world watches closely as Joshua navigates his comeback journey and explores various fight possibilities.
