Those that run the streaming service to which Anthony Joshua is exclusively tied expect the former heavyweight champion to return to the ring long before December.

The British superstar surprised people when he announced on social media recently that he won’t fight again until the final month of 2023. The 33-year-old Joshua later told Sky Sports that a summer fight remains a possibility, but that he still tentatively planned to go six months between bouts this year.

Joshua (25-3, 22 KOs) unanimously out-pointed American contender Jermaine Franklin (21-2, 14 KOs) in his most recent fight, which took place April 1 at O2 Arena in London.

Joe Markowski, DAZN’s chief executive officer for North America, told BoxingScene.com during a recent interview that he doesn’t anticipate Joshua remaining out of the ring until December.

“That’s not consistent with what we’re planning,” Markowski said. “We’re in discussions for an AJ fight in advance of that, but nothing’s made. We’ll see what happens. [A summer fight is] definitely possible.”

Markowski didn’t take Joshua’s proclamation about boxing next in December too seriously.

“Fighters say things on social media all the time,” Markowski said. “I don’t think you should read too much into that. We’re talking to AJ’s team about what the next six, seven months look like for AJ. We’re not there yet. But I don’t think it’ll take too long until we’ve got some clarity on that.”

A Joshua-Dillian Whyte rematch has long been discussed by Eddie Hearn, whose company, Matchroom Boxing, has promoted Joshua throughout his nine-year professional career. London’s Whyte (29-3, 19 KOs), whom Joshua stopped in the seventh round of their December 2015 bout at O2 Arena, has been very vocal about wanting his chance to avenge the first defeat of his professional career.

Hearn and Joshua also stated in the immediate aftermath of his victory over Franklin that their goal was for him to fight three times this year.

Whoever and whenever Joshua fights next, the 2012 Olympic gold medalist maintains that it’ll be up to him and trainer Derrick James, who worked Joshua’s corner for the first time when he fought Franklin.

The 6-foot-6, 255-pound Joshua wants to develop more continuity with James, his third coach in less than two years, before making that determination.

“I thought as I’ve changed maybe three coaches in three years, it would be good to develop and work under the guidance of my new coach,” Joshua told Sky Sports, “and by the time I’m back in the ring, I’ve cemented and implemented everything he wants. … I don’t want to lie to the fans at the time that I’m fighting this date and whatnot, when there are still conversations in the background happening. I just wanted to draw a line in the sand and say, ‘I’m not fighting until this date.’

“If I [and] my coach decide to change my mind – I feel I’m able to change my mind, right? So, I’m able to fight in July or August if I want. So, right now it’s [the summer fight date] off the table, but we are subject to change providing my coach is happy with what he sees.”

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.