Eddie Hearn, the promoter, verified that although conversations regarding a mid-year comeback have occurred, Joshua remains in a period of recuperation and has not yet restarted his complete training regimen. The ex-heavyweight titleholder had initially been anticipated to compete earlier this year, but this schedule shifted after he was involved in an automobile collision late last year, which tragically led to the fatalities of two individuals from his team.
“From a physical standpoint, he is not currently ready to rejoin training camp,” Hearn communicated to BoxingScene. “I am exploring various possibilities to arrange his return to competition around July, but the true feasibility of this will only become apparent once he is back in camp, which we anticipate will be within the coming two to four weeks.”
Due to this postponement, a specific adversary has not yet been confirmed. The precise timing of any return to fighting will be contingent upon Joshua receiving medical clearance and being in a state to undertake a complete training program. Hearn stated that the primary objective at this moment is to ensure Joshua’s complete recuperation prior to solidifying any future arrangements.
Joshua’s most recent bout occurred in December, concluding with his knockout victory over Jake Paul. This triumph had initially set the stage for a prominent 2026 calendar, encompassing talks about a possible confrontation with Tyson Fury.
Hearn conveyed that a match against Fury still presents a viable option, albeit occurring at a later point than initially considered. He mentioned that the highly anticipated all-British heavyweight clash is now anticipated closer to the conclusion of the current year or possibly further in the future, subject to Joshua’s recuperation and his re-entry into competitive readiness.
Joshua, who is 36 years old, is anticipated to render a definitive judgment regarding his return schedule subsequent to his rejoining the training camp and concluding his preliminary conditioning phase.
