Connect with us

Boxing

Joshua’s return in 2025. “50-50” – just a grueling fight

Published

on

Image: Benavidez Waits in the Wings: Hearn Justifies Bivol's Third Beterbiev Fight Over WBC-Ordered Mandatory Challenge

Eddie Hearn says it’s a “50-50” there is a possibility that Anthony Joshua will fight before the end of the year. He claims that if A.J fights, it will be uncomplicated “a fight of attrition“I an undercard fight, not a headliner.

No risky opponents for Joshua

It’s a substantial hint from Matchroom promoter Hearn that Joshua (28-4, 25 KO) won’t fight anyone who has even the slightest risk of causing him problems. This means you can basically rule out these four:

  • Arslanbek Makhmudov
  • Guido Vianello
  • Marcin Bakole
  • Tony Yoka

The younger version of Joshua can be safely matched up against these players without any major concerns. However, in the current situation he finds himself in at the age of 35, after a devastating fifth-round knockout loss to Daniel Dubois and a 13-month layoff, it would be madness to pit him against any of the above fighters.

Vianello calls for a showdown in Rome

2016 Olympian Vianello (14-3-1, 12 KO) challenged AJ following his fifth-round knockout of previously undefeated Alexis Barriere last Saturday, October 11, at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. The gigantic, 180 cm elevated, Italian-born Vianello (31) wants to fight Joshua Colosseum in Rome. It would be a great atmosphere, but too risky for AJ.

Not a headliner – just a “fight of exhaustion”

If he fights this year, that’s it be a grueling fight because coming back to a tough fight after a year and a half break is not always that uncomplicated,” said Eddie Hearn iFL Television about the possibility of Anthony Joshua fighting before the end of 2025.

It’s sheltered to say that whoever Joshua fights next, it won’t be someone with the punching power to dent his chin. This virtually rules out any of the top-tier contenders, as most of them have power and are younger than Joshua.

Reconstruction does not restore trust

Hearn forced Joshua into a four-fight rebuild following his 12-round split decision loss to Oleksandr Usyk in a rematch on August 20, 2022. AJ exhausted two years of his career fighting fringe fighters to revitalize him: Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin, Francis Ngannou and Jermaine Franklin. It didn’t work. When Joshua faced Dubois last year, in September 2022, he was destroyed.

Fighting the Fury is still the goal

“This year is not about money. The idea is to wrap your arms around them, go in and put them in someone’s jaw. Then back to the camp, preparations for the next one and the fight with Tyson Fury. So it’s 50-50 whether he will fight this year. But if he does, he will be added to the card. He won’t be a headliner,” Hearn said.

Joshua needs a elevated striker who can emulate Fury’s fighting style. However, it makes no sense for Hearn to plan as if the fight with the “Gypsy King” would take place when he hasn’t said a word about returning to the ring to fight him.

If he agrees to fight Joshua, he may want a fortune in front of him. Is he really worth it? Fury lost his last two fights against Usyk and looked older than his chronological age of 37.

If Tyson fails to find the Fountain of Youth to drink from, his performance against Joshua will be similar, if the fight happens at all. Mentally, he no longer seems to want to fight after losing twice to Usyk. Plus he made a lot of money from these fights. He reportedly has the purse for the first and second fights $105 million AND $94.4 millionappropriately.

Last update: 13/10/2025

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Boxing

Tim Bradley explains why Lamont Roach can beat William Zepeda

Published

on

Image: Tim Bradley Explains Why Lamont Roach Can Beat William Zepeda

Bradley says Roach’s experience against pressure players and southpaws will give him an advantage on August 1

Tim Bradley thinks Lamont Roach Jr. he is the player best placed to make William Zepeda lose. In a speech on his YouTube channel, Bradley selected Roach as the winner of the vacant WBC lightweight title on August 1 and cited the fight’s stylistic advantages as a key factor.


“I’m picking Roach to win this fight,” Bradley said on his channel. “I think it’s a perfect match in style. I think Roach fights southpaws better than orthodox fighters.”

Roach comes into the fight coming off a draw with Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz and a contentious draw with Gervonta Davis, as well as two physically demanding fights against high-pressure fighters that Bradley says has prepared him for Zepeda’s relentless approach.

“I think he fought one of the best southpaws in the world in Tank Davis. And he did damn well against him,” Bradley said. “He wasn’t scared by the force of the impact.”

Bradley believes Roach has the tools needed to neutralize Zepeda’s pressure.

“When guys who like to get forward and be aggressive, nine times out of 10 they don’t like being tackled,” Bradley said. “Roach has the ability to do it. He has the knowledge and the IQ to be able to do it. And if he does it, he will win this fight.”

Bradley also cautioned that Roach cannot afford to leave matters in the judges’ hands, arguing that he needs to create more separation than in recent draws with Isaac Cruz and Gervonta Davis.

Youtube video

Click here to sign up for our FREE newsletter

Related boxing news:

Categories Latest

Last update: 2026/06/13 at 14:20

Continue Reading

Boxing

Roy Jones Jr Says He’ll Return to Fighting One Fighter If He Gets an Eight-Figure Salary: ‘It’ll Make Me Prepare’

Published

on

Roy Jones Jr says he’ll return to fight one man if he gets paid eight figures: “It would make me prepare”

Roy Jones Jr has announced his price and is demanding an eight-figure purse if he is to make it through the ropes.

At his peak, the American became one of the best players to ever grace the sport, and his breathtaking speed and overall physical prowess made him seem almost unbeatable.

After winning world titles at middleweight, super middleweight and airy heavyweight, Jones even moved up to heavyweight and dethroned John Ruiz to win the WBA belt in 2003.

The pound-for-pound legend retired in 2018, when many thought his best days were behind him, only to take it to the next level exhibition match with Mike Tyson in 2020

Although it was a non-contest, many believed that Tyson outplayed Jones, who then returned professionally against Anthony Pettis and lost an eight-round decision to the former UFC champion in 2023.

Since then, the 57-year-old has remained on the safer side of the competition, but is now eyeing another comeback, this time against Misfits boxer Tommy Fury.

Having delved into the power side of the sport following previous professional victories over Jake Paul and KSI, Fury is now preparing to face former World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall.

I’m talking to Betting showroomJones said he would only be willing to challenge the 27-year-old if he was handsomely rewarded for his troubles.

“Is me vs. Tommy Fury dead? Nothing is dead forever. Roy Jones is still alive. Tommy Fury is still alive. Who knows? For the right money, it would make me go to the gym to get ready.”

“If they give me $10 million of course. Ten and more, yes. If they don’t give me $10 million and more, then no, I’m not wasting my time.”

Fury’s six-round exhibition match with Hall will take place later today at the Manchester Arena, although the result will not affect his professional record of 11-0 (4 KO).

Continue Reading

Boxing

Hamzah Sheeraz should fight Osleys Iglesias first

Published

on

Image: A High Cost: The Humiliation That Will Define Canelo's Next Two Fights

“There are a confined number of fights and he can’t fight every fighter. So why don’t you consider that [Iglesias and Sheeraz] think about who wants to be at the front of the line,” Kellerman said on InsideRingShow.

Kellerman rejected the idea that Canelo was firing any of the fighters.

“He’s not saying he’s ignoring Sheeraz and Iglesias. In fact, he just gave them a path. He said, ‘I’m fighting Mbilli.’ You are fighting each other. This is not a duck. This is about business,” Kellerman said.

Sheeraz has already made it clear that he has no interest in following the route proposed by Canelo. Responding to a suggestion from an earlier interview, the British fighter said he respected Alvarez but would not allow another boxer to dictate his career decisions.

A fight between Sheeraz and Iglesias could answer many of the remaining questions about both men.

Canelo is preparing to fight Mbilli, a fighter widely viewed as one of the most threatening fighters in the division due to his constant pressure and furious attacks. Meanwhile, Sheeraz has had two fights since moving up to 168 pounds, a fight against Edgar Berlanga, who he stopped in July 2025 after Canelo had already beaten him a year earlier, and 39-year-old Al Begic for the vacant WBO title.

A fight between Sheeraz and Iglesias could eliminate many of the questions that still haunt both men. Sheeraz would have the opportunity to silence critics who believe his super middleweight resume is slim, while Iglesias could reaffirm a growing reputation that has led some fans to consider him the division’s boogeyman.

The winner would pose a bigger and more marketable challenge. Instead of facing Sheeraz immediately after his victory over Begic, Alvarez could face an opponent who had a decisive victory over another world champion, adding more significance to what could be one of the final marquee fights of his career.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

OUR NEWSLETTER

Subscribe Us To Receive Our Latest News Directly In Your Inbox!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Trending