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.’
Tom Galm has been lively on the global boxing scene since 2014, specializing in heavyweight analysis, business trends and fighter psychology.