Promoter Eddie Hearn is not sure that heavyweight Anthony Joshua will box at all in 2025, instead with the former unified champion returning to the ring early in next year.
Speaking on Matchroom’s Flash Knockdown podcast, Hearn said that eyes had no turned toward a bout in January or February.
“I don’t think there’s any value in us saying it will be in December. He’s been travelling about a bit but he’s back in training following an elbow operation,” said Hearn.
“But these big fights take time and every AJ event is a massive event. It was well publicised about the meetings that took place in Ghana over the last couple of weeks. There has been an offer to do a fight there and I think it would be incredible for AJ to fight in Africa.”
Joshua has been linked to fights with Frenchman Tony Yoka and Jake Paul, which still could happen next year.
“When you are doing site deals a lot of it depends on when the host wants to stage the show,” Hearn added. “So, if Ghana comes back and says they’d like to go in January-February, then that’s the offer. I don’t think there’s a rush, albeit he has been out of the ring for almost a year now. Any fight he has next though is likely to be a warm-up fight for that ‘roll the dice’ fight. We hope, in an ideal world, that is Tyson Fury. If not, it will be against one of the top five heavyweights.”
Joshua’s last fight was in September 2024, when he lost in five rounds to Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium.
The 35-year-old is 28-4 (25 KOs).
