Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury Fight Update Issued After Car Crash Recovery
Promoter Eddie Hearn has provided a significant update on Anthony Joshua's potential return to the ring and a long-awaited showdown with Tyson Fury. This comes after Joshua survived a near-fatal car crash in Nigeria last December that tragically claimed the lives of two of his closest friends.
Joshua's Recovery and Return Timeline
The former two-time world heavyweight champion was initially scheduled to face Fury in a blockbuster £200 million bout this summer. However, the devastating accident cast serious doubt on his boxing career and forced a postponement of those plans.
According to Hearn, Joshua is now making steady progress in his recovery and is approaching a return to training. While physically not yet ready for competition, the promoter believes Joshua could potentially fight again as early as July, marking a remarkable comeback from the life-threatening incident.
"Originally the plan with AJ was for him to fight in March and then fight Tyson Fury in August," Hearn explained in an interview with BoxingScene. "He's not going to fight Tyson Fury next; he's going to come back, I believe, in late summer."
Potential Fury Showdown Delayed but Not Cancelled
The highly anticipated all-British heavyweight clash between Joshua and Fury, which has been discussed for years, now appears more likely to occur towards the end of 2026 or possibly early in 2027. Hearn emphasized that while they remain open to the Fury fight, Joshua's immediate priority is a safe and successful return to the ring.
"I'm looking at options to get him back in the ring in July," Hearn stated. "But we will only know if that's a real possibility when he returns to camp, which will hopefully be in the next couple of weeks. Every fight is dangerous coming off what he's been through."
Hearn added: "We are open to the Tyson Fury fight but more likely at the end of the year or early in 2027."
Fury's Own Comeback Plans
Meanwhile, Tyson Fury is preparing for his own return to boxing after ending a year-long retirement. The current heavyweight champion is scheduled to face Russian contender Arslanbek Makhmudov in April, maintaining his activity while Joshua recovers.
This development keeps alive the possibility of one of boxing's most lucrative and anticipated matchups, though fans will need to wait longer than originally hoped. Both fighters' paths now appear to be converging toward a potential collision in the coming months, provided Joshua's recovery continues smoothly and Fury maintains his championship status.
