Anthony Joshua Rumored to Return This Summer
By Eddie Sanchez
Following Anthony Joshua’s victory against Jake Paul, but prior to the tragic car accident that took the life of two of his friends, the plan was for him to fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in the spring. The tragic event altered his trajectory to the point where many wondered if he would return at all.
Joshua was involved in a fatal car crash that killed two of his closest friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, while on holiday in Nigeria. He was lucky to survive the crash with minor injuries, though the mental toll was surely something huge he’s have to overcome.
Long-time promoter Eddie Hearn was able to confirm that plans are being formulated for Joshua to return in the summer.
“Originally, the plan with AJ was for him to fight in March and then fight Tyson Fury in August,” Hearn shared. “That’s not happening. He’s not fighting Tyson Fury next. He’s going to come back, I believe, in 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. 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.”
“I mean, 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 that’s more likely end of the year… maybe early 2027,” Hearn said.
The man rumored for Joshua’s originally planned bout in Riyadh was heavyweight kickboxer Rico Verhoeven. Hearn was asked if that fight could be revisited for Joshua’s fight in July, but he believes that Verhoeven could face unified champion Oleksandr Usyk instead.
Surely fans will not care whom Joshua steps in the ring with next, so long as he returns with full health and mental strength to continue his career.
About The Author
