Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua could make a competitive return to boxing as early as July, according to a surprise update from his promoter Eddie Hearn. This accelerated timeline follows Joshua's involvement in a devastating car accident in Nigeria last December, which left him injured and claimed the lives of two of his teammates.
Recovery and Return Timeline
Joshua, 36, was a passenger in the crash that occurred just days after his knockout victory over influencer Jake Paul in a six-round bout. The accident resulted in the tragic deaths of his teammates Sina Ghami and Latif "Latz" Ayodele, casting significant doubt over Joshua's fighting future. In the immediate aftermath, fans and analysts questioned whether the British boxer would ever step back into the ring.
However, Hearn revealed in an interview with Boxing Scene that Joshua has been training and could potentially fight by late summer. "I'm looking at options to get him back in the ring in July time," Hearn stated. "But we'll only know if that's a real possibility when he returns to camp, which will hopefully be in the next couple of weeks or a month."
Original Plans Disrupted
The car crash has forced a major reshuffle in Joshua's career trajectory. Hearn explained that the initial strategy involved a fight in March, followed by a highly anticipated showdown with Tyson Fury in August. "That's not happening, he's not fighting Tyson Fury next," Hearn confirmed. "He's going to come back – I believe – late summer, but physically he's not yet in a position to return to camp."
Despite the setback, Hearn remains optimistic about a potential Fury matchup, suggesting it could occur by the end of this year or early 2027. He also addressed rumours linking Joshua to a fight with unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, who has twice defeated Joshua on points.
Emotional Aftermath and Training
In the wake of the accident, Joshua shared a vulnerable message about the loss of his friends, highlighting the emotional toll of the incident. Nevertheless, he has since resumed training, indicating his determination to continue his boxing career. Hearn emphasised that every fight will be dangerous for Joshua, given the circumstances of his recovery, but a warm-up bout is being considered to ease his return.
Heavyweight Division Developments
While Joshua focuses on his comeback, the heavyweight landscape continues to evolve. Tyson Fury, 37, is set to emerge from retirement for the fifth time to face Russia's Arslanbek Makhmudov on 11 April. This fight will stream live on Netflix, similar to Joshua's victory over Paul. If successful, Fury is expected to target a world-title fight, potentially involving Fabio Wardley, who holds the WBO title.
Additionally, Derek Chisora, a friend of Joshua, will fight Deontay Wilder one week prior to Fury's bout. Joshua has long been linked to a possible clash with Wilder, adding another layer of intrigue to the division's future matchups.
Hearn's update provides a glimmer of hope for Joshua's fans, as the boxer navigates both physical recovery and emotional healing. With plans for a July return now on the table, the boxing world watches closely to see if Anthony Joshua can reclaim his place among the sport's elite heavyweights.
