Oct 1, 2023; London, United Kingdom; Heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua on the field before the first half of an NFL International Series game at Wembley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports

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Eddie Hearn Reveals Anthony Joshua’s Return Date; With A Dream Fight Already In Mind!

Anthony Joshua’s journey has stalled since that brutal knockout loss to Daniel Dubois last September. The former unified heavyweight champion left Wembley Stadium that night looking like a fighter who had hit rock bottom, his dreams of reclaiming his throne seemingly shattered by Dubois’ devastating right hand.

What followed was months of soul searching, elbow surgery, and questions about whether the 35 year old still had the hunger to compete at the highest level. Boxing fans wondered if they had witnessed the end of AJ’s championship ambitions that September evening.Now, nearly a year later, Eddie Hearn has provided the answers everyone has been waiting for.

Eddie Hearn Reveals Anthony Joshua’s Return Timeline

Hearn revealed to Sky Sports that Joshua will return to the ring in January or early February 2026. This marks what could be the beginning of his final championship run. This isn’t just another comeback fight. Hearn has already mapped out Joshua’s path back to relevance, complete with a carefully chosen opponent.

“We’ve got to choose carefully for the next fight, and I think the best way in all of this is just to be honest and say the next fight will be a comeback fight to build into a roll of the dice next summer…A defeat now at this stage of his career would be devastating to those plans. So we need to get it right”

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Hearn’s approach to Joshua’s comeback shows the kind of careful planning that separates elite promoters from the rest. Rather than throwing his fighter back into the deep end against elite competition, the promoter has outlined a measured strategy that prioritizes smart matchmaking over quick paydays. Hearn wants a world-ranked opponent from the top 15 who can provide competitive action without carrying the knockout power that could derail everything.

Dream Fight With Tyson Fury

The matchroom promoter also talked about a dream showdown that would break box office records. The master plan involves one name that has eluded Joshua throughout his career: Tyson Fury.

“Right now, all that’s in my mind in an ideal scenario is to fight Tyson Fury next year. That’s the big focus. From a common-sense perspective, the fight has to happen in 2026.”

The all-British heavyweight superfight has been the white whale of boxing for years, with multiple attempts to make it happen falling apart due to various complications. From failed negotiations to interim bouts that derailed momentum, this fight has frustrated fans who consider it the biggest possible matchup in heavyweight boxing. Hearn’s latest comments suggest that 2026 represents their last realistic chance to finally deliver this epic bout.

(Image Credit: Peter van den Berg – Imagn Images)

Anthony Joshua

Eddie Hearn

Tyson Fury

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!