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Eddie Hearn: Anthony Joshua is unlikely to fight in 2025

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Anthony Joshua is unlikely to fight in 2025, with his February return currently the most likely option, promoter Eddie Hearn told ESPN.

Hearn has previously said there is a possibility that Joshua – who has not fought since defeat to Daniel Dubois last September – could return this year, but as time passes and the schedule fills up, it is likely that AJ will fight again in early 2026, potentially at a major event in Africa.

“Right now, the more likely scenario is to return in February,” Hearn told ESPN.

“I mean, the most crucial thing is that he’s back in full training camp now [but] leave in December, delivery is very brisk.

“I’m not ruling it out completely, but… there’s training, and then there’s training before the date, and if that date comes in December, he’ll have to find out soon.”

If he returns in 2026, it will be the first time in his career that Joshua has not fought in a calendar year.

Hearn said that in an ideal world, Joshua would return as the co-main event on another card, but admitted that might be challenging given his superstar status.

“He will fight in February, whether it is his second fight or his first fight,” Hearn said.

“It seems like every time he fights, he has to go and fight in this huge stadium and he always puts up a pretty tough fight. It would be nice if this fight was over so you could just wrap your arms around it and just get back into the rhythm.”

“But unfortunately in this respect he is a victim of his own success.”

The next move is crucial for Joshua, who still wants to fight Tyson Fury next year.

Hearn said only Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, was able to strike a deal with Fury.

“Our deal [with Alalshikh] what hasn’t been done is pretty close. We will do a deal but it won’t make any difference if Fury isn’t there,” Hearn said.

“The only person who will make this fight is Turki Alalshikh. That is the reality because the amount of money Tyson Fury would pay and the way this deal has to be done makes him perfectly prepared and prepared to fight this fight.

“So once he does our deal, all he has to do is do a second deal and he’ll be ready, and you’ll support him every time to get that deal done.”

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Hamzah Sheeraz should fight Osleys Iglesias first

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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.

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

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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.

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

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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.

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