Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed Anthony Joshua could be heading into his final year in boxing, as he lines up his potential last three fights.
Joshua, 35, is currently recovering from elbow surgery and has not been seen in the ring since his defeat at the hands of Daniel Dubois in September.
That means that by the time we do see AJ return, it will have been at least a year since his last fight.
Nevertheless, Hearn and AJ have remained definitive the two-time world heavyweight champion will be back in the ring this year.
Anthony Joshua has not been seen in the ring since his defeat against Daniel Dubois in September
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Initially, Hearn had targeted a rematch with Dillian Whyte for his next opponent, but the 37-year-old is now close to finalising a deal to fight 20-year-old Moses Itauma in Saudi Arabia this August.
Speaking to DAZN, Hearn admitted: "Dillian Whyte was probably the frontrunner, to be honest with you. Now it looks like he's going to fight Moses - so that was a curveball.”
The 46-year-old promoter teased a blockbuster fight with Deontay Wilder, while dismissing the possibility of the highly-anticipated all-English bout against Tyson Fury this year.
Hearn also hinted as to Joshua's potential retirement timeline next year.
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Eddie Hearn dismissed the possibility of Anthony Joshua clashing with Tyson Fury in the ring this year
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"Jared Anderson's been mentioned, obviously Deontay Wilder's back soon,” Hearn said.
"I think AJ would have been out the ring just over a year by the time he steps back into the ring.
"He will be coming off surgery, I don't think Fury's going to be ready to fight around that time anyway.
"But I expect it to be someone to gear him up for a really big fight in 2026. And probably, 2026 will be his last year in the sport."
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While the fight would pull in mammoth viewing figures, Wilder has had a torrid time of late.
The 39-year-old has lost four of his last five fights, including against Zhilei Zhang, 42, and Joseph Parker, 33.
The American has been out of the ring for a year since his defeat against Zhang but returns later this month against Tyrrell Herndon.
He will be hoping this fight can reignite the possibility of an AJ-Wilder bout.
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Deontay Wilder will need to beat Tyrell Herndon if he wants to fight Anthony Joshua next year
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Hearn was keen to remind fans that the fight would still be “massive". He said: "AJ-Wilder's a massive fight as well and I think because of the loss to Dubois, it makes the fight more palatable.
"Especially if Wilder can come back with a good win."
A Fury fight has long been at the top of fans’ wish lists, and Hearn still has one eye on that potential fight for next year.
“For me, if I'm advising AJ, we're back this year, we have two Tyson Fury fights, what else is there to do?
"Maybe fight a Daniel Dubois, but for me, once AJ fights Tyson Fury, he's kind of done it all.
"I'd love him to have another crack at Daniel Dubois and I'd love him to have another crack at Usyk but you just keep going on and on and on.”
The promoter concluded by envisaging AJ’s retirement plans as “beating Fury twice and then sailing off into the sunset”.
Although, he did admit that if Joshua was to be “firing on all cylinders”, then 2026 “won’t be his last year”.
While next year and beyond seems uncertain, one thing is for sure: AJ will fight later this year, and he will be back for at least one more blockbuster face-off.
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