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Eddie Hearna’s risky plan to resurrect Anthony Joshu’s career against a perilous opponent

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Image: Eddie Hearn's Risky Plan to Resurrect Anthony Joshua's Career Against a Dangerous Tune-up Opponent

Eddie Hearn says that they must choose the opponent of Anthony Joshua “carefully” at the beginning of 2026 to prepare him for a great fight in the summer against a man whom he hopes that there will be Tyson Fury.

Risk weighing

Hearn wants to avoid Joshua (28-4, 25 KO), who suffers from nervous failure and ruining his plans for one of the popular heavyweight. The four names mentioned by Hearn in his fight for a sultry -up are risky for him because he left the ring for 16-17 months after the elbow surgery and knockout defeat with Daniel Dubois on September 21, 2024.

Four Joshua candidates

  • Tony Yoka
  • EFE JAGBA
  • Frank Sanchez
  • Jared Anderson

These are still risky fights for Joshua, who is 36 years senior next month. Ajagba (20-1-1, 14 KO) would be a potential nightmare because of its power and size 6’6 ″. On the right side of the cannon was ruined by Hearna’s plans regarding AJ.

Olympic gold medalist 2016 Tony Yoka (14-3, 11 KO) is also not simple. It can hit and its size 6’7 ″ makes him a threat to Joshua. Although Yoka has lost several times in the last three years, these were competitive fights in which many difficult shots landed.

“We must carefully choose the next fight and I think that the best way to do it is to be sincere and saying that the next fight will be the fight for the construction of the ankle next summer,” said Eddie Hearn Sky sports boxing. “We want it to be against Tyson Fury. If this is not the case, it will be a huge fight.”

Safe and sound path options

At the bottom of the best 15 is a lighter difficult impact, which Joshua could fight, which would give him a better chance of winning. Considering that he takes a long break and a bad loss from Dubois, choosing one of these fighters, I think, would be a safer choice for AJ:

  1. Johnny Fisher
  2. Joseph Goodall
  3. Michael Hunter
  4. Mahmoud car

“We need a guy from the best 15 [next]. We need someone so that AJ can return to a competitive fight after he came out for what will be for over a year and prepare for what will be the last bone roller, “said Hearn.

History Reconstruction

In the case of four fights of Joshua in 2023 and 2024, Hearn chose four lower level fighters with which he did well. Although technically Otto Wallin and Jermaine Franklin were pretenders, they did not pose a threat to him. These types of heavyweight would be perfect for AJ to fight at the beginning of 2026 to keep him in the summer hit.

“Beating his career at this stage would be catastrophic for these plans. So we have to do it,” said Hearn.

Another loss with a knockout would put Joshua in a situation where he would have to decide whether it is worth continuing his career. Thanks to his power, speed, size and pedigree, he could quickly rebuild if he could remain busy enough to push three or four fights in a year and a half. This is unlikely, considering his age and a growing tendency to fight once a year.

“Joshua is at a crossroads, but he has a heart to come back. Look at Holyfield at the age of 34, losing to the knockout to regain size. AJ 36, it has not yet been done, but the next fight will tell us a lot,” said writer Tom Gray from Sporting News, telling about the next fight of Joshua at the beginning of 2026.

Last updated 09/02/2025

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Bam Rodriguez wins the bantamweight crown with a sixth-round TKO of Antonio Vargas

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Image: Bam Rodriguez Scores Sixth-Round TKO of Antonio Vargas for Bantamweight Crown

In the main event, Rodriguez improved to 24-0 (17 KO) after a sixth-round stoppage of Vargas, who dropped to 19-2-1 (11 KO). Rodriguez secured the victory at 1:15 of the sixth round of the scheduled 12-round fight.

Vargas had the advantage in the first round, ahead of Rodriguez. Rodriguez responded well in the second round, using the move effectively before Vargas closed the scoring strongly with a quick strike slow on. Vargas continued to find success in the third and fourth rounds, often overpowering Rodriguez.

The fight took a dramatic turn in the fifth round when Rodriguez delivered an overhand left hand that knocked Vargas down early in the round. Referee Chris Flores counted and Vargas got up and continued.

In the sixth round, Rodriguez closed the show. A fierce three-punch combination sent Vargas to the canvas again, and Flores counted out Vargas, giving Rodriguez another world title to add to his growing resume.

In the co-main event, Arturo Cardenas improved his record to 18-0-2 (9 KO), defeating Jordan Martinez, who dropped to 16-1-1 (15 KO) over 10 rounds.

The first two rounds were close, with Cardenas pressing and having a slight advantage. Martinez found success in the third and fourth rounds with his counter punches and movements, rocking Cardenas with a left hand slow in the fourth round.

Cardenas responded in the fifth round, landing a right hand that caught Martinez’s attention in another close stanza. From the sixth to ninth rounds, the action remained fierce, although Cardenas seemed to gain the advantage with body attacks. In the 10th and final round, Cardenas seemed to outsmart Martinez enough to secure the decision.

The judges scored the fight 100-90, 98-92 and 97-93. Raul Caiz Jr. he was a judge.

In the lightweight division, Elias Terraza remained undefeated, improving to 14-0 (9 KO), following a second-round stoppage of Adrian Rodriguez, who dropped to 10-1 (6 KO).

Terraza effectively took advantage of his height advantage in the first round, landing a jab and landing a right hand to Rodriguez’s temple in the final minute. Early in the second round, Terraza dropped a right cross to Rodriguez. After Rodriguez took down the count, Terraza pounced on him with a sustained attack, forcing referee Chris Flores to stop the fight at the 2:30 mark.

IBF women’s lightweight champion Elif Nur Turhan defended her title with a narrow unanimous decision over Gabriela “Sosa” Tellez.

Turhan improved to 14-0 (8 KO), while Tellez dropped to 7-1 (3 KO). Despite the official verdict, the fight was fierce throughout.

Turhan boxed effectively in the early rounds, while Tellez managed to land right hands, especially slow in the opening phase. Turhan seemed to have the advantage in the middle rounds before Tellez rallied in the fifth round.

Turhan landed a solid right hand in the final seconds of the sixth round that briefly rattled Tellez. In the seventh round, Tellez responded with a left hook that drew blood from Turhan’s mouth before the champion finished the round strongly.

The ninth round was close and Turhan seemed to have beaten Tellez. During the final round, referee Richard Hoyle warned Turhan twice for pushing Tellez to the canvas. Turhan pushed tough to stop in the closing moments, landing a wild right hand as the fight came to an end.

All three judges scored the fight 96-94 in favor of Turhan.

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Trainer Robert Garcia Predicts Devin Haney vs. Shakur Stevenson Fight: ‘With a Very Slim Edge’

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Regis Prograis predicts Devin Haney vs Shakur Stevenson after facing Haney: “He’s more skilled”

Esteemed coach Robert Garcia provided his expert opinion on a potential clash between Shakur Stevenson and Devin Haney, who have verbally agreed to meet at the 144-pound catchweight division.

There are rumors that both American stars will be joining Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing, apparently with the intention of clashing under the promotional banner.

While nothing has been confirmed, the pair regularly exchange information on social media, and Haney has verbally agreed to drop 3 pounds below his preferred fighting weight.

“The Dream” won the WBO welterweight title in November, becoming a three-division world champion dethroning and unanimously overtaking Brian Norman Jr.

Earlier this week, however, the WBO confirmed that Haney would be stripped of his belt if he fought Stevenson at the 144-pound catchweight division, as the 27-year-old had been ordered to face mandatory challenger Keyshawn Davis.

However, if they do end up facing off at 144 pounds, top trainer Garcia said Fighting Hub TV that he will favor the WBO super-lightweight champion the least.

“Honestly, I think it’s a great fight for both of them. They both fight very astute – they don’t handle each other [many] mistakes.

“The first one to make a mistake, the second one will take advantage of it. It’s a tough fight. With a very miniature difference, I probably think Shakur [would win]. He’s too astute.

“What I like about Haney is that he’s willing to take a risk. He’d be willing to take that risk and I think Shakur benefits from that [of his mistake]”

Stevenson became a four-division world champion when he dethroned Teofimo Lopez in January with a unanimous majority victory in his first appearance at 140 pounds.

That’s why the 28-year-old is reluctant to face Haney at 147 pounds, where his opponent would have a significant size advantage.

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Robert Garcia wants another fight for Jesse Rodriguez before his fight with Naoya Inoue

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Image: Robert Garcia Wants Another Fight For Jesse Rodriguez Before Naoya Inoue Showdown

“The ideal idea would be to have another fight,” Garcia said, discussing Rodriguez’s future. “Now he’s felt it for the first time. Plus, Vargas is a little taller, clumsy, and has difficulty with speed. Medina is very sturdy, so it would be a great test.”

Garcia’s comments came after Rodriguez’s bantamweight debut. The veteran trainer explained that his fighter had gained valuable experience against a naturally larger opponent and could benefit from another fight before potentially moving up to the 122-pound weight class.

“Three pounds may not seem like a lot to someone who just runs, but in boxing it makes a substantial difference,” Garcia said. “So for me the perfect idea would be to organize another fight.”

These comments contradict Hearn’s assessment of the situation.

“If we don’t do this soon, we will probably miss the boat,” he added. Hearn said, referring to a possible Rodriguez-Inoue clash.

Inoue, who turned 33 in April, remains one of boxing’s biggest attractions and one of the top fighters in the sport. The Japanese star currently competes at super bantamweight, which is four pounds heavier than his modern home of Rodriguez, who weighs in at 118 pounds.

Rodriguez himself seemed ready for whatever direction his team chose.

“Whatever my team says,” Bam Rodriguez said. “Whatever they throw in front of me, I’ll say yes.”

The fight between Rodriguez and Inoue has long been viewed as one of the most exhilarating future fights in the sport. However, Garcia’s comments suggest that Team Rodriguez may be considering whether an extra season at bantamweight could improve Bam’s chances of fighting the biggest fight of his career

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