YOKOHAMA, Japan – Eddie Hearn has confirmed that Anthony Joshua has undergone successful elbow surgery and is already plotting a return for the heavyweight.
Joshua has not fought since his fifth round stoppage defeat to Daniel Dubois in September 2024. There was a deal for Joshua to rematch Dubois, but the former world champion had been suffering with an elbow injury and would require surgery.
Hearn has now revealed that Joshua has now completed a successful operation on the injured elbow. The promoter is now looking at making a big fight for Joshua, but believes they need to let things play out in the heavyweight division first. Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois will collide on July 19 to decide the undisputed heavyweight champion, while Tyson Fury continues to flirt with the possibility of a return.
“He's had the operation, which went very well, and now he's just sort of rehabbing it,” Hearn told BoxingScene. “I believe about six weeks till he can punch again properly, and that kind of lends itself to a September, October, November fight. That gives us a chance to see what happens with Dubois against Usyk. That gives us a chance to see if Mr. Fury will ever return, and maybe something else. But he's definitely fighting this year and looking forward to it.”