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Eddie Hearn says Anthony Joshua’s return in 2025 will be a “development” that will prepare him for a huge risk in 2026.

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Image: "Let's Run It": Anthony Joshua Responds to Jake Paul's Challenge, Building Towards a Massive 2026 Fight

Eddie Hearn confirmed last night that if Anthony Joshua fights before the end of 2025 it will be a “development” fight to sign him “100% ready” for the “huge risk” fight in 2026. He claims that for Joshua (28-4, 25 KO) it would be a card fight, not the main job.

Who fits into Joshua’s “development” plan?

Hearn’s mention of a “huge risk” for Joshua suggests he has not abandoned his vision of a “Battle of Britain” taking place between him and Tyson Fury in 2026. He doesn’t seem to be taking Fury entirely seriously regarding his desire to remain retired due to his age, gray hair, and being “too luxurious” to continue.

Fury is the only player Hearn has shown a desire to match Joshua and it is understandable why. He is by far the most popular heavyweight in the division. The undisputed heavyweight champion, Oleksandr Usyk, has already defeated Joshua twice and there is no point in organizing a third fight. Fans don’t want to see Joshua lose a third time and it’s doubtful Hearn would bother encouraging this type of contest.

“There won’t be any huge name fights this year unless it’s Jake Paul,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. Social boxing on Anthony Joshua’s status ahead of his next fight. “It wouldn’t be a headline. It wouldn’t be a pay-per-view. You don’t have to complain about it. It could be part of something that already existed and is on sale. So no one will moan.”

Pool of sluggish, Chinese and frail candidates

If Joshua decides to fight on the undercard in December, it will have to be someone sluggish, slender and frail. It would be too risky to put AJ with one of the live dogs like Fabio Wardley, Agit Kabayel or Moses Itauma and watch him get knocked out.

Five secure choices for Joshua’s December return

  • Arslanbek Makhmudov
  • Michael Hunter
  • Mahmud Carr
  • Guido Vianello
  • Stephan Shaw

“It’s just part of the development to be 100% ready for huge risks [in 2026]. It doesn’t matter where. It’s not fight night with Anthony Joshua,” Hearn said of Joshua’s next fight if he were to return to the ring in 2025. “Not this year,” Eddie said AJ won’t be headlining the event if he fights in 2025.

Finding the right guy to tune the AJ

I don’t know anything about Joshua’s “development” talk that Hearn is talking about. That sounds like it talk twice. Joshua is 36 years aged and as developed as ever. It’s more about making AJ look like pure gold come December by sharpening him up a bit and protecting him, making sure he destroys his opponent without getting hit by anything bigger.

“If he fights this year, he won’t be in the main fight because it won’t be one of those type of fights. We want to work almost in silence, improve and get into the mode to be 100% ready. It’s about development and some activity,” Hearn said.

Last update: 11/02/2025

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Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley 2: Round-by-Round Live Updates and Results

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Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley 2: Round-by-Round Live Updates and Results

Daniel Dubois will face Fabio Wardley in a rematch of a heavyweight slugfest from earlier this year, with Dubois defending the WBO heavyweight title he took from Wardley on that night.

Live coverage will kick off at 2 pm ET, and we’ll have results and updates during the four-fight, main card undercard, then live, round-by-round scoring and updates for the main event itself.

How to watch Dubois vs Wardley 2

Start time: 2:00 pm ET for main card, prelims begin at 11:00 am ET

Streaming: DAZN (Ultimate subscription or Pay-Per-View)

PPV Cost: As a standalone, one-off purchase Pay-Per-View, the price is $59.99 (or £24.99). With DAZN’s Ultimate tier, the show is included as part of your subscription.

Location: O2 Arena – London, England

Dubois vs Wardley 2 full undercard and running order

Live Stream: Dubois vs Wardley 2 Prelims

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Mannix and Mora Support Fabio Wardley in Quest for Vengeance

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"Mannix and Mora Support Fabio Wardley in Quest for Vengeance"

Fabio Wardley can turn his early success against Daniel Dubois into a rematch victory if he avoids exhausting himself chasing the finish. He proved he could hurt Dubois in their first fight. The harder task is keeping control when an opponent he has dropped continues coming forward.

Wardley scored two early knockdowns before Dubois recovered and stopped him. That leaves an opening for a different result, although better pacing alone may not be enough to prevent another punishing night.

Chris Mannix and Sergio Mora both back Wardley to win again on Saturday, with Mannix choosing him by stoppage. Mora believes Wardley’s eagerness to finish Dubois helped undo his promising start.

“If he just doesn’t punch himself out, he thinks about setting up that right hand, doesn’t get right hand happy,” Mora said to DAZN Boxing.

That is the adjustment Wardley needs to make under pressure. Once Dubois survived his biggest punches, Wardley needed something beyond another loaded right hand. Working behind his jab and putting punches together would give him more ways to attack without spending everything on a single finish.

Dubois deserves credit for surviving those knockdowns and returning to his jab. Mora believes his previous defeats helped him stay composed when Wardley hurt him. Wardley now has his own experience of a fight turning against him.

“I think he’ll be smarter after this fight. I think he’ll learn some lessons,” Mannix said. “I think Wardley wins by stoppage in this fight.”

Mannix’s biggest concern is what the first beating took out of Wardley. Learning the tactical lesson does not guarantee he will absorb Dubois’ punches the same way in the rematch.

Wardley’s power gives their picks a credible foundation. He has already put Dubois down twice. To complete the job, he needs to create another opening without allowing the pursuit of a knockout to leave him exhausted and exposed again.

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Boxing247.com is an independent boxing news publication covering the sport since 2001. It provides original reporting, fight analysis, schedules, results, and informed coverage of major fighters and events worldwide, backed by more than 25 years of professional boxing journalism.

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Fabio Wardleys Team Advocates for Strict Foul Monitoring Against Daniel Dubois

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"Fabio Wardley's Team Advocates for Strict Foul Monitoring Against Daniel Dubois"

Fabio Wardley’s team wants tighter control of Daniel Dubois’ head-first attacks in Saturday’s rematch, with manager Michael Ofo calling for stronger officiating after their first fight.

The concern is about Wardley being able to punch without Dubois driving into him with his head. Those collisions can interrupt an attack, knock a fighter out of position, and make him hesitate before throwing again.

Dubois recovered from two knockdowns to stop Wardley in May and take the WBO heavyweight title. Ahead of their return at London’s O2 Arena, Ofo has accused the champion of leading with his head and using a tackle during that fight.

“We’re calling for a stronger referee, because it’s needed,” Ofo told Sky Sports Boxing.

Dubois’ trainer Don Charles rejected the criticism, describing the opposing camp’s complaints as “insecurity and weakness.”

Wardley’s camp has a reasonable case for asking the referee to watch those entries closely. When Dubois comes forward behind his punches, head contact can make it difficult for Wardley to plant his feet and counter. Intent is difficult to establish, but repeated collisions still need attention.

That becomes especially important if Wardley hurts Dubois again. He needs the opportunity to follow up without a foul interrupting his work and giving the champion time to recover.

However, Wardley cannot build his approach around the referee intervening. His jab has to give Dubois something to get past, and combinations would make him less predictable than loading up on individual power shots. Moving after punching could also reduce the opportunities for Dubois to drive into him.

Wardley showed he could hurt Dubois in the first fight. The harder task is turning those moments into a finish while avoiding another punishing battle at close range. Firmer officiating could help, but his own adjustments will have to do most of the work. Wardley cannot rely on the third man to solve that puzzle.

If Dubois is going to be stopped from barreling in head-first, Wardley has to make the physical cost of doing so intolerable, just like Oleksandr Usyk did.

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BoxingNews24.com has delivered independent boxing coverage since 2007, including original news, fight analysis, schedules, and results. Our experienced boxing writers cover major fighters and events worldwide, with published content reviewed by editors for accuracy.

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