Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has been dealt a crushing blow to his legendary status, with George Groves insisting the British boxing star doesn't deserve a place in the Hall of Fame despite his decorated career.
The Hall of Fame Verdict
Speaking to BetVictor, former super-middleweight champion George Groves delivered a brutal assessment of Joshua's credentials for boxing's highest honour. "No, he didn't beat anyone to get into the Hall of Fame," Groves stated unequivocally. "If he'd beat Fury, or Wilder, or Usyk, maybe, but the fact that you sell a lot of tickets shouldn't deserve you to get into the Hall of Fame."
This stark evaluation comes despite Joshua's impressive career achievements, including becoming a two-time heavyweight champion and securing memorable victories against boxing legends. Groves did concede that a win over either Tyson Fury or Oleksandr Usyk would likely be enough to secure Joshua's place among boxing's elite.
Joshua's Current Situation and Comeback Plans
The 36-year-old boxer has been out of action for over a year since suffering a devastating knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois in September 2024. Joshua has spent most of 2025 recovering from elbow surgery, but anticipation is building for his return to the ring within the coming months.
Promoter Eddie Hearn revealed that plans are advancing for Joshua's comeback, potentially even before Christmas. "We will make a decision this week on his next fight," Hearn confirmed. "If he fights this year you probably won't hear about it, we would literally rock up on fight week."
Hearn described a potential scenario where Joshua could appear on an undercard with minimal promotion, focusing purely on the fight itself. "I'd love him to go in there and just smash someone up," he added, emphasising that financial gain wouldn't be the priority for such a bout.
Future Prospects and Potential Opponents
While a tune-up fight appears to be the immediate plan, Joshua's team is already looking toward high-profile matchups for next summer. Tyson Fury remains at the top of Joshua's wishlist, though the 'Gypsy King' recently delivered another setback by insisting that not even a £1 billion payday would lure him back into professional boxing.
Hearn has also addressed speculation about a potential bout with YouTube sensation Jake Paul, confirming that while discussions have occurred, no formal offer has been made. "If we were to have a run-out, a run-out against Jake Paul would be nice, but I don't think he's mad enough," Hearn remarked, playing down the likelihood of such a matchup.
Despite the Hall of Fame criticism, Joshua's career highlights remain impressive. He first claimed the heavyweight title in 2016 with a brutal knockout of Charles Martin, followed by his iconic eleventh-round stoppage of Wladimir Klitschko a year later in what many consider his career-defining performance. Additional victories against Joseph Parker, Alexander Povetkin, Andy Ruiz Jr and Otto Wallin further cement his status as one of Britain's most successful heavyweights.
As Joshua prepares for his return, the boxing world watches closely to see if he can secure the legacy-defining victories that Groves and others believe he needs to cement his place among the sport's all-time greats.
