Connect with us

Boxing

“50-50 chance Anthony Joshua fights in 2025.”

Published

on

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

Eddie Hearn says there is “50-50” the chance that Anthony Joshua will be able to fight before the end of the year on the undercard in December.

This would be the first time in a decade, since 2015, that AJ would fight on the undercard. The standard of the opponent would obviously be very low and you have to respect Hearn and Joshua for choosing to headline this fight.

Understandably, Hearn is not willing to risk associating Joshua with a killer after a 15-month break and a brutal fifth-round knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois in September 2024. Despite three losses in his last seven fights, 2012 Olympic gold medalist AJ is still golden goose for Hearn’s Matchroom.

Makhmudov: The perfect enemy with risk and reward

The perfect enemy for Joshua would be Russian heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov. It’s gigantic, snail-paced, but powerful. He would be a decent enough fighter that the boxing public would be interested in fighting Joshua. But if this was a main event fight, fans would protest and pay to watch this farce.

Hearn drops the 50-50 bomb.

Matchroom promoter Hearn believes it would be “beneficial” for former two-time heavyweight champion Joshua (28-4, 25 KO) to clear the ring rust after a year of inactivity and get him ready for gigantic fights in 2026.

The two gigantic fights Hearn has planned for the 36-year-old Joshua next year:

The fight against “Fury” is still up in the air at this stage and will depend on whether the seemingly reluctant “Gypsy King” is willing to fight him. So far, Fury has resisted the pressure to fight Joshua in the ring. This is an ongoing phenomenon that has been going on for over a decade. Thanks to the $160 million Tyson has earned over his successful career, he has enough wealth to resist fan pressure to face AJ.

Riyadh or California? Two options

“It will probably be 50-50 for him to fight this year. If he ends up on the undercard somewhere, it will give him a chance to get back on the field and it will be very beneficial for his career,” said Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn. Ring Magazine about Anthony Joshua.

AJ should fight in December if he hopes to fight Fury in the first quarter of 2026. He will need training to aid him prepare for the great 6-foot-8 Tyson. Entering such a match after missing the ring since September 2024 would be a bad idea for Joshua.

“It’s December 13 in California. There’s also a gala in Riyad on December 27. It might not even be something we announce a few weeks in advance,” Hearn said of Joshua’s potential next fight before the end of 2025. “He’s in the gym, he’s staying ready, so we can say, ‘You’re out in two weeks in an eight-round fight.’

Last update: 22/10/2025

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

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

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

Boxing

Errol Spence Jr puts himself in line for an All-American main event if he wins his comeback against Tszyu

Published

on

Errol Spence Jr lined up for major all-American fight if he wins comeback against Tszyu

Errol Spence Jr gained additional motivation to defeat Tim Tszyu, knowing that the winner of the upcoming fight could face a potentially more lucrative opportunity.

The two former world champions will face each other on July 25 in Australia, with Tszyu having the home advantage and looking to rejoin the world stage.

To do this, the 31-year-old must defeat a credible opponent and prove that despite losing three of his last six fights, he remains one of the top super welterweight fighters in the world.

Ideally, he would have fought Spence at 154 pounds, but given his opponent’s three-year layoff, Tszyu ultimately agreed to fight at the catchweight of 158 pounds.

Before the long break, Spence lost the WBC, IBF and WBA welterweight titles to Terence Crawford, who defeated his rival with a surprisingly one-sided ninth-round stoppage.

However, even before his loss to “Bud,” many believed that “The Truth” would be better suited to the 154-pound division, where he plans to make his mark after his triumph over Tszyu.

If such a plan comes to fruition, Spence could enter into a national feud with Jermell Charlo, who has not fought since unanimous decision loss to Canelo Alvarez in September 2023

According to Mike Coppinger of Ring MagazineCharlo could very well face Tszyu if the Australian wins the fight against Spence.

“I was told he would be lined up to win [Spence-Tszyu]. Of course, nothing has been done yet. I’m told that behind the scenes, Charlo is being lined up for this fight, which will take place at 154 pounds.[lbs]”

Before the 168-pound fight with Canelo, Charlo became the undisputed super welterweight champion by dethroning Brian Castano by a 10th-round stoppage in 2022, less than a year after his controversial boxing draw.

The 36-year-old achieved this ambition by training under Derrick James, who is also Spence’s former head coach.

Continue Reading

Boxing

Eddie Hearn opens door to Anthony Joshua-Tyson Fury fight outside UK

Published

on

Image: Eddie Hearn Opens Door To Anthony Joshua-Tyson Fury Fight Outside UK

“If Turki calls me and says, ‘Listen, we have an opportunity here to do this. What do you think?’ I said, ‘Look, I’d rather do it in the UK, but let me talk to Anthony.’ We’ll look at the numbers and go from there,” Hearn told Fight Hub TV. “I wouldn’t rule out this fight taking place anywhere, but I think it’s more than likely you’ll see it in the UK.”

These comments may prove crucial due to the scale of the event.

Unlike recent blockbuster fights that have largely revolved around a single marquee attraction, Joshua vs. Fury features two internationally recognized heavyweight stars. Both fighters headlined stadium events, attracted significant pay-per-view audiences and built a fan base that reached far beyond the UK.

This reality may ultimately influence the event venue discussion.

From a British perspective, Wembley Stadium would seem a natural venue for the fight. The atmosphere created by two domestic heavyweight rivals could make this one of the biggest sporting events in recent British history.

However, Saudi Arabia’s investment in boxing is rarely driven solely by ticket sales revenues. The Kingdom is increasingly using major sporting events to promote tourism and showcase itself to international audiences as part of its broader Vision 2030 strategy.

If Turki Alalshikh is bankrolling what could become the biggest fight in British boxing history, there is a business case for staging it in Riyad rather than allowing another country to benefit from the influx of visitors and world attention.

Hearn maintains that the UK remains the preferred destination. However, his confirmation that discussions could resume if Turki offers an alternative suggests the setting may not be as placid as many fans assumed.

Youtube video

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