BoxRec

Anthony Joshua on course for ‘late summer return’

Plans are in motion for Anthony Joshua’s return to the ring.

The former two-time heavyweight champion last fought in December, when in Miami, Florida he shook off 15 months of ring rust before violently stopping Jake Paul in the sixth round, and broke Paul’s jaw in the process.

Joshua targeting July return as Hearn...

Victory marked Joshua’s first in the US – he suffered a shock knockout defeat by Andy Ruiz Jnr in New York back in 2019 – and reached over 30 million homes on Netflix.

The plan was then for him to fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in the spring, but tragedy struck the heavyweight. 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. Joshua was lucky to survive the crash with minor injuries and, following the loss of two friends, boxing again was understandably not in the forefront of his mind.

There have been videos of Joshua over the past few weeks training in the Middle East where he resides, and his promoter and long-time friend Eddie Hearn was able to confirm that plans are being formulated for him 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 told Boxing Scene. “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.”

Considering what Joshua has had to overcome, his opponent is not expected to be of the highest level. Hearn, however, revealed that they would be open to jumping straight in with Tyson Fury, who returns on April 11 against Arslanbek Makhmudov.

“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 rumoured 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.

I hope all these rumors of Usyk vs Verhoeven actually have some merit to them. That'd be a really unique bout. A 1st in the History of both Sports I think.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑19 Feb 2026, 21:46 I hope all these rumors of Usyk vs Verhoeven actually have some merit to them. That'd be a really unique bout. A 1st in the History of both Sports I think.

I think it's a really fornicating stupid idea.

Putting a boxer in with a kickboxer is suicidal, Usyk could end up with his legs permanently wrecked, or just KTFO from a single kick.

It will be another warm up. Been to many of those lately

joshj909 wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 08:36 It will be another warm up. Been to many of those lately

Even I’ll let him off with this one, he got sparked out last time out and his two best mates died right next to him!

jamesmcdonnell wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 06:43

gilgamesh wrote: ↑19 Feb 2026, 21:46 I hope all these rumors of Usyk vs Verhoeven actually have some merit to them. That'd be a really unique bout. A 1st in the History of both Sports I think.

I think it's a really fornicating stupid idea.

Putting a boxer in with a kickboxer is suicidal, Usyk could end up with his legs permanently wrecked, or just KTFO from a single kick.

It would be a Boxing match surely.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 12:31

jamesmcdonnell wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 06:43

gilgamesh wrote: ↑19 Feb 2026, 21:46 I hope all these rumors of Usyk vs Verhoeven actually have some merit to them. That'd be a really unique bout. A 1st in the History of both Sports I think.

I think it's a really fornicating stupid idea.

Putting a boxer in with a kickboxer is suicidal, Usyk could end up with his legs permanently wrecked, or just KTFO from a single kick.

It would be a Boxing match surely.

No, they are talking about alternate rounds of boxing and kickboxing

jamesmcdonnell wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 12:42

gilgamesh wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 12:31

jamesmcdonnell wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 06:43

I think it's a really fornicating stupid idea.

Putting a boxer in with a kickboxer is suicidal, Usyk could end up with his legs permanently wrecked, or just KTFO from a single kick.

It would be a Boxing match surely.

No, they are talking about alternate rounds of boxing and kickboxing

They may be talking about, but that'll never be what gets agreed to I wouldn't think. If it does then Usyk is braver than most any other Heavyweight Champion because all of the rest of them would force it to be a Boxing match.

I would think the most money would surely be in making it a Boxing match.

mickey1975 wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 10:21

joshj909 wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 08:36 It will be another warm up. Been to many of those lately

Even I’ll let him off with this one, he got sparked out last time out and his two best mates died right next to him!

Yeah, I agree with that. It's not so much of a complaint that is his fault as it's completely understandable but if you look at his record since Usyk, except for Dubois, it's entirely warm ups for fights that never happened. His career has stalled which is not his fault this time around but looks more of a problem following his other fights. When you add it to the likes of Fury, Kabayel, Okolie, Riakporhe, Ajagba and others in the division taking warm up fights, it makes the division look flat.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 12:45

jamesmcdonnell wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 12:42

gilgamesh wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 12:31

It would be a Boxing match surely.

No, they are talking about alternate rounds of boxing and kickboxing

They may be talking about, but that'll never be what gets agreed to I wouldn't think. If it does then Usyk is braver than most any other Heavyweight Champion because all of the rest of them would force it to be a Boxing match.

I would think the most money would surely be in making it a Boxing match.

Trevor Berbick had one. It didn't look like he knew he'd agreed to it when the bell went.

mickey1975 wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 12:54

gilgamesh wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 12:45

jamesmcdonnell wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 12:42

No, they are talking about alternate rounds of boxing and kickboxing

They may be talking about, but that'll never be what gets agreed to I wouldn't think. If it does then Usyk is braver than most any other Heavyweight Champion because all of the rest of them would force it to be a Boxing match.

I would think the most money would surely be in making it a Boxing match.

Trevor Berbick had one. It didn't look like he knew he'd agreed to it when the bell went.

No sh*t? Who did Berbick have a Kickboxing match with?

I know Shannon Briggs had a Kickboxing match with Tom Erickson, but Erickson was primarily an MMA fighter known for his Wrestling so he wasn't exactly playing his game either.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 12:55

mickey1975 wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 12:54

gilgamesh wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 12:45

They may be talking about, but that'll never be what gets agreed to I wouldn't think. If it does then Usyk is braver than most any other Heavyweight Champion because all of the rest of them would force it to be a Boxing match.

I would think the most money would surely be in making it a Boxing match.

Trevor Berbick had one. It didn't look like he knew he'd agreed to it when the bell went.

No sh*t? Who did Berbick have a Kickboxing match with?

I know Shannon Briggs had a Kickboxing match with Tom Erickson, but Erickson was primarily an MMA fighter known for his Wrestling so he wasn't exactly playing his game either.

I don't even know if it was kickboxing, some Japanese bloke kept kicking him whilst Berbick was in his stance. He ended up getting out of the ring.

mickey1975 wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 12:57

gilgamesh wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 12:55

mickey1975 wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 12:54
Trevor Berbick had one. It didn't look like he knew he'd agreed to it when the bell went.

No sh*t? Who did Berbick have a Kickboxing match with?

I know Shannon Briggs had a Kickboxing match with Tom Erickson, but Erickson was primarily an MMA fighter known for his Wrestling so he wasn't exactly playing his game either.

I don't even know if it was kickboxing, some Japanese bloke kept kicking him whilst Berbick was in his stance. He ended up getting out of the ring.

May have been one of those Japanese "Shoot Wrestling" promotions. Where it's basically a Pro Wrestling match, but it's a Pro Wrestling match that's trying to look like a legit contest of some sort.

It would make sense that this was the case, and it would make sense that maybe Berbick's people had agreed to this, and he legitimately didn't even know what it was he had agreed to or what was going on.

joshj909 wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 12:48

mickey1975 wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 10:21

joshj909 wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 08:36 It will be another warm up. Been to many of those lately

Even I’ll let him off with this one, he got sparked out last time out and his two best mates died right next to him!

Yeah, I agree with that. It's not so much of a complaint that is his fault as it's completely understandable but if you look at his record since Usyk, except for Dubois, it's entirely warm ups for fights that never happened. His career has stalled which is not his fault this time around but looks more of a problem following his other fights. When you add it to the likes of Fury, Kabayel, Okolie, Riakporhe, Ajagba and others in the division taking warm up fights, it makes the division look flat.

The division is flat.
No one is fighting or fighting once a year. And the top guys sitting around waiting for Saudi money whilst getting older and older.

KiwiRider wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 13:39

joshj909 wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 12:48

mickey1975 wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 10:21
Even I’ll let him off with this one, he got sparked out last time out and his two best mates died right next to him!

Yeah, I agree with that. It's not so much of a complaint that is his fault as it's completely understandable but if you look at his record since Usyk, except for Dubois, it's entirely warm ups for fights that never happened. His career has stalled which is not his fault this time around but looks more of a problem following his other fights. When you add it to the likes of Fury, Kabayel, Okolie, Riakporhe, Ajagba and others in the division taking warm up fights, it makes the division look flat.

The division is flat.
No one is fighting or fighting once a year. And the top guys sitting around waiting for Saudi money whilst getting older and older.

Wardley v Dubois?

mickey1975 wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 13:56

KiwiRider wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 13:39

joshj909 wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 12:48

Yeah, I agree with that. It's not so much of a complaint that is his fault as it's completely understandable but if you look at his record since Usyk, except for Dubois, it's entirely warm ups for fights that never happened. His career has stalled which is not his fault this time around but looks more of a problem following his other fights. When you add it to the likes of Fury, Kabayel, Okolie, Riakporhe, Ajagba and others in the division taking warm up fights, it makes the division look flat.

The division is flat.
No one is fighting or fighting once a year. And the top guys sitting around waiting for Saudi money whilst getting older and older.

Wardley v Dubois?

Wardley in 2025 came into his own, and is now the most exciting guy in the division for sure. Not sure if he'll ever climb all the way to the Mountain top, but he'll be a guy that'll be a hell of a lot of fun to watch try for it every step of the way.

My favorite fighter of the moment easily.

mickey1975 wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 13:56

KiwiRider wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 13:39

joshj909 wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 12:48

Yeah, I agree with that. It's not so much of a complaint that is his fault as it's completely understandable but if you look at his record since Usyk, except for Dubois, it's entirely warm ups for fights that never happened. His career has stalled which is not his fault this time around but looks more of a problem following his other fights. When you add it to the likes of Fury, Kabayel, Okolie, Riakporhe, Ajagba and others in the division taking warm up fights, it makes the division look flat.

The division is flat.
No one is fighting or fighting once a year. And the top guys sitting around waiting for Saudi money whilst getting older and older.

Wardley v Dubois?

One fight to look forward to.
But in the last six months it's been dire hasn't it?

Canelo vs Crawford
Wardley vs Joseph Parker

Have been in the last 6 months.

Ball vs Figueroa wasn't a big event, but it was a great fight. I'm sure there's been other stuff I'm forgetting, but that's the biggest Boxing Event of last year, and the best Fight of the Year all within the last 6 months. I've seen worse stretches in the sport.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 14:17

mickey1975 wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 13:56

KiwiRider wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 13:39

The division is flat.
No one is fighting or fighting once a year. And the top guys sitting around waiting for Saudi money whilst getting older and older.

Wardley v Dubois?

Wardley in 2025 came into his own, and is now the most exciting guy in the division for sure. Not sure if he'll ever climb all the way to the Mountain top, but he'll be a guy that'll be a hell of a lot of fun to watch try for it every step of the way.

My favorite fighter of the moment easily.

my favourite too.

Hard not to enjoy him.

Strikes me as joyce 2.0 though, will suddenly fall to bits

jamesmcdonnell wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 16:21 Hard not to enjoy him.

Strikes me as joyce 2.0 though, will suddenly fall to bits

Yes I can't imagine he'll have a terribly long run because even in his wins he takes so much punishment, and that'll likely continue as I don't see defense ever becoming his 1st thought in there at least not until he suffers a KO defeat.

Whatever happens. He'll be a joy to watch because you know he's gonna go for it with all he's got.

Assuming he's not going to come back and face someone that poses much threat. Someone that isn't world or genuine European level. I'd like to see him someone like against Hughie (for the name promo), Yoka (Olympic gold Vs Olympic gold) or Xhoxhaj (pick up the European belt that he hasn't won yet). If it's someone better than that then Bakole, Miller, Okolie. Riakporhe, Gassiev, Anderson or Wilder are all good enough fights. Can't imagine it will be anyone better than that.

SOURCES: ANTHONY JOSHUA TO RETURN AGAINST OLD RIVAL..

Sources suggest Anthony Joshua’s comeback fight could be against Dillian Whyte, although nothing has been confirmed at this stage.

The pair were due to rematch in August 2023, but the fight never materialised.

Both fighters currently don’t have a bout scheduled, fuelling speculation a long-awaited rematch could finally happen.

https://www.boxingkingmedia.co.uk/antho ... -revealed/

Awful fight that nobody is paying for. Doesn't help Joshua shake off ring rust either