Eddie Hearn has expressed his desired roadmap for Anthony Joshua’s return to the ring in 2026.
In true champion style, Anthony Joshua (29-4, 27ko’s) has battled through serious adversity to even make it to a point where the boxing world is talking about potential opponents.
The end of 2025 was marked in tragedy for Joshua, who was involved in a horrific car crash in Nigeria, where close friends and team members Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami sadly lost their lives.
As Joshua continues to recover both mentally and physically from these circumstances, the boxing world continues to share their thoughts and feelings to everyone associated with the tragic events.
Boxing seems to be AJ’s fuel during these times.
The man from Watford has joined team Oleksandr Usyk in Spain, and is now in training camp ahead of a return to the ring.
A long-awaited clash with Tyson Fury (34-2-1, 24ko’s) has been rumoured for September, permitting the Gyspy King gets through Arslanbek Makhmudov this Saturday.
For Joshua, due to his own activity, it is likely he will also take a warmup fight.
2025 was a year of inactiviy for AJ largely, with his only outing being against Jake Paul last December.
Speaking to Fight Hub TV, promoter Eddie Hearn has expressed his desired roadmap for Anthony Joshua in 2026.
Hearn expressed: “This is what I want, we need a warmup fight before we fight Tyson Fury”.
“Because AJ’s coming off of the accident, he’s rehabilitating his body”.
“We will take Deontay Wilder as that warmup fight, and then we will fight Tyson Fury”.
“I think he [Wilder] looked much better in that fight than previously, Anthony Joshua will walk through Wilder inside three rounds”.
Maybe some people will say these fights are happening too late.
But one things for sure, Joshua in the ring with Wilder or Fury will grip the boxing world.
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