Anthony Joshua's Boxing Return Accelerated, Eddie Hearn Targets July Comeback
Anthony Joshua could make a swifter-than-anticipated return to professional boxing, with promoter Eddie Hearn suggesting a potential comeback as early as July. This update follows the heavyweight star's involvement in a tragic car accident in Nigeria last December, which left him injured and claimed the lives of two of his teammates.
Fatal Crash and Recovery Timeline
In December, just days after Joshua's knockout victory over Jake Paul in a six-round bout, the boxer was a passenger in a car crash in Nigeria. The accident resulted in injuries to Joshua and the tragic deaths of his teammates, Sina Ghami and Latif "Latz" Ayodele. In the aftermath, Joshua's fighting future was uncertain, with fans and analysts speculating about a possible retirement.
However, Joshua, known as "AJ," resumed training relatively quickly, and Hearn's latest comments indicate a competitive return is now on the horizon. Originally, plans had been in place for Joshua to fight in March and then face Tyson Fury in August, but the accident disrupted this schedule.
Eddie Hearn's Promotional Update
Speaking to Boxing Scene on Thursday, Hearn outlined the revised timeline. "Look, originally the plan with AJ was for him to fight in March, and then fight Tyson Fury in August," Hearn stated. "That's not happening, he's not fighting Tyson Fury next. He's going to come back – I believe – late summer, but physically he's not yet in a position to return to camp. So, I'm planning, but he's just resting and preparing."
Hearn elaborated on the potential July return, noting, "So for me, I'm looking at options to get him back in the ring in July time, 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." When questioned if Joshua's next fight might serve as a warm-up, Hearn acknowledged the risks, saying, "I think every fight's dangerous, coming off what he's come off, but yeah, I think... We're open to the Tyson Fury fight, but probably more likely end of the year, maybe early 2027."
Heavyweight Division Context and Future Fights
Prior to the crash, Joshua, 36, had been linked to a bout with kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven. Hearn also addressed rumours of a potential fight with Oleksandr Usyk, the unified heavyweight champion who twice defeated Joshua on points, stating, "I believe he's fighting... rumours of him fighting [Oleksandr] Usyk, yeah." Meanwhile, Fabio Wardley holds the WBO title in the division.
Elsewhere, Tyson Fury, 37, is set to emerge from retirement for the fifth time to box Arslanbek Makhmudov on 11 April. This fight will stream live on Netflix, similar to Joshua's win over Paul, and occurs a week after Derek Chisora faces Deontay Wilder. Chisora is a friend of Joshua, who has long been associated with a possible clash against Wilder.
Hearn hinted that Joshua and Fury were on course for a long-awaited showdown this year, but the accident has delayed those plans. It is currently expected that Fury will target a world-title fight if he defeats Russia's Makhmudov.
As Joshua continues his recovery and preparation, the boxing world watches closely, with Hearn's July target offering a beacon of hope for fans eager to see the former world heavyweight champion back in action.
