- Meanwhile, Fury is preparing for his own fight against Arslanbek Makhmudov
- There’s nothing he wants more than to get back to camp
- Earlier plans for a March fight, which could have led to a bout with Fury, have been cancelled
Anthony Joshua is targeting a return to the ring in July after recovering from a serious car accident in December, but his highly anticipated fight with Tyson Fury will not happen next, promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that Joshua had been enjoying momentum following his sixth-round knockout victory over Jake Paul in Miami when tragedy struck during a Christmas visit to Nigeria.
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The accident claimed the lives of two close associates and members of his training team, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, and left Joshua hospitalized.
Hearn told The Sportsman that earlier plans for a March fight, which could have led to a bout with Fury, have been cancelled.
“He was scheduled to fight in March and then face Tyson Fury. That’s no longer happening. He won’t be fighting Fury next,” Hearn explained. He added that no official plans have yet been set for Joshua’s comeback.
The priority, Hearn said, is Joshua’s full recovery and gradual return to training. Anthony’s focus is to get back into training camp. He’s not ready yet physically, but progress is being made.
There’s nothing he wants more than to get back to camp because that’s where he loves to be,” he said.
July is being considered as the most likely timeframe for Joshua’s return, with potential venues under review internationally. Decisions on opponents and other logistics will follow once Joshua resumes full training.
Meanwhile, Fury is preparing for his own fight against Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 11, marking his first match since losing the rematch to Oleksandr Usyk in December 2024.
Although fans may have to wait longer for the Joshua-Fury showdown, Hearn’s remarks indicate that the former champion’s return to competition and full fitness is on track.
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