Anthony Joshua, former unified heavyweight champion, is currently out of action due to elbow surgery, but already has several scenarios in mind for his return to the ring this year.
Joshua’s Options
The most anticipated fight is undoubtedly a British showdown with Tyson Fury. Both boxers have been close to facing each other for years, but the match has never materialized. After Fury’s consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk last year, there seemed to be an opportunity for the fight to happen. However, Fury announced his retirement in January, although he has recently hinted at a possible return.
Fury’s Instagram post: “This is what retirement looks like for the Gypsy King. Not bad. I’m in no rush to get back in the ring and get punched in the face, for what? Why would I come back? That’s the question. So here we are. I’m retired and I’m staying retired. I have nothing to prove to anyone and nothing to come back for.”
Amidst the uncertainty surrounding Fury’s return, Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has spoken about his protégé’s future.
Hearn also mentioned that Joshua, 35, would like to avenge his fifth-round knockout defeat to Dubois last September, if the opportunity arises. But if the fight with Fury comes up, that will be the main goal. Hearn is not sure if Fury’s retirement is definitive, regardless of what the former heavyweight champion says on social media.He will only fight once this year. He will be ready by mid-September, and by then we will know for sure if Fury is going to return or not. But Joshua’s opponent will also depend on what happens in the Daniel Dubois vs. Usyk fight. I like our position in that regard, and if neither of them is available, we will fight someone else.
Eddie Hearn
I just don’t think he can leave it. You know why? Because he’s not on the decline. He’s still at the top of his powers and it’s very difficult to walk away from a fight like Anthony Joshua when you’ve still got what it takes. And that’s why I think it will happen.
Eddie Hearn
Another option for Joshua is a showdown with former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, 39. A fight between Joshua and Wilder was discussed several years ago, when Joshua was the unified champion and Wilder held the WBC title. The two sides couldn’t reach an economic agreement for the fight and went their separate ways. The two sides aligned for a possible fight again in 2023, but Wilder was stopped in consecutive fights against Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang.
If Wilder defeats Tyrrell Herndon in June, a fight between Joshua and Wilder could be back on the table.
If Wilder returns and looks sensational, we’ll probably start talking about it again. I don’t rule it out at all. It will always be an exciting fight, but certainly the focus is first on Fury and possibly Dubois if he can overcome Usyk.
Eddie Hearn
