Promoter Eddie Hearn said Anthony Joshua is likely going to start training later this month ahead of a return to the ring in May or June.
Hearn had hoped Joshua’s 2025 would include a bout, or two, with Tyson Fury, but after Fury announced he retired earlier in the week, Hearn might have to look elsewhere for opponents. That list may now include Martin Bakole, who called out Joshua on social media this week, and Deontay Wilder, the slugger long linked to Joshua who yesterday confirmed his comeback.
“What I said was our two preferred options are Tyson Fury and the winner of [Daniel] Dubois against [Joseph] Parker [on February 22]. But, if Tyson Fury never fights again, and we don’t get the winner of Dubois-Parker, AJ is still going to fight. He’s ready to almost return to camp, he wants to fight in May or June and they asked me for some names,” Hearn told Matchroom Boxing.
“[Martin] Bakole got his back up the other day, a little bit with the call out. There could potentially be a big fight in Africa, I think that’s an unlikely fight. Deontay Wilder is a fight, I think coming off the defeat people would still love to see, if Wilder comes back with a win, looks like he’s scheduled to fight again in February. Dillian Whyte, I don’t know. These are just names I’m plucking out, because AJ will fight.”
Hearn also has not given up on the possibility of Fury-Joshua.
“We will see what happens with Tyson Fury in the meantime,” Hearn added. “I can’t see Mr Fury leaving this fight on the table.”
Read the full article here
