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.
Olly Campbell has been covering boxing since 2010 and writing for Boxing News 24 since 2014. He has been based in the UK and currently covers the world boxing scene, providing fight news, results and features that allow fans to hear the biggest stories in the sport.
With a background in reporting from the UK and Europe, Olly has developed a style that combines keen analysis with accessible writing, making his work valuable to dedicated followers and casual fans alike. His reports consistently highlight champions, challengers and emerging prospects on the global stage.
Oleksandr Usyk has shared his reaction to Anthony Joshua‘s dramatic knockout victory against Kristian Prenga.
Usyk nearly suffered his own shock defeat in May when he was pushed to the limit by kickboxing star Rico Verhoevenand two months on it was nrw teammate Joshua’s turn to come close to a massive upset loss that would have stunned the heavyweight division.
The Brit was dropped twice by massive underdog Prenga in the opening round of their clash in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, but ‘AJ’ managed to recover and record a big knockdown of his own in the second round that resulted in the stoppage victory.
Joshua and Usyk now train together, having famously had two battles for the unified world heavyweight title in 2021 and 2022, and the Ukrainian has had his say on his stablemate’s victory over Prenga.
Speaking to TalkSporttwo-time undisputed champion Usyk praised Joshua, insisting ‘AJ is back’ before predicting that Joshua will now claim a knockout win over long-term rival Tyson Fury in his next bout.
“Anthony Joshua is next undisputed champion. First round it’s a test but AJ is back.
It’s boxing, [the] big upper cut is good, it’s a knockdown. AJ [come] back and win.
“Greedy Belly [Fury] will speak now and say weak chin, Greedy Belly get out. AJ wins [against Fury], [he will] knock him out.”
Fury was victorious on Friday as he earned a seventh round retirement win against Mariusz Wach in Thailand, paving the way for the showdown against Joshua later this year.
Jake Paul was the last man to fight Anthony Joshua and he has now revealed his verdict on AJ’s chaotic victory over Kristian Prenga.
Joshua went up against Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturdayin a clash that was expected to be a comfortable win for the former world heavyweight champion in order to set up the long overdue battle against Tyson Fury.
Any hopes of seeing that clash were nearly ended after AJ was dropped twice in the opening round of the bout, though he was able to recover and claim the second round knockout to come out on top and prevent a stunning shock upset from taking place.
Saturday’s outing saw Joshua back in the ring for the first time since his sixth round triumph over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul back in Decemberand now ‘The Problem Child’ himself has shared his reaction to his former rival’s victory over Prenga.
Posting on social mediaPaul praised AJ for earning the win, after returning to action following the tragic car crash he was involved in at the end of last year which took the lives of his two close friends.
“Happy for Joshua with that win after all he’s been through. Remembering Sina and Latz with this one.”
Happy for Joshua with that win after all he’s been through.
Remembering Sina and Latz with this one.
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) July 25, 2026
The win for Joshua should now tee up for meeting with Fury later this year, after ‘The Gypsy King’ held up his end of the bargain by also securing a win in his warm-up bout on Friday, securing a seventh round retirement win against Mariusz Wach.
Anthony Joshua may have earned a knockout win over Kristian Prenga but the fight certainly didn’t unfold as most people expected.
Joshua was facing the Albanian in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, and it looked like a massive upset could be on the cards when he was dropped twice in the opening round.
‘AJ’ was able to recover and went on to secure a second round knockout victory to prevent the shock lossseemingly paving the way for the battle against Tyson Fury later this year.
One man who was ringside to witness the battle was former cruiserweight world champion Tony Bellewand he praised Joshua’s ability to turn things around in the fight after describing it as ‘chaos’.
“We predicted round two but I don’t think we foresaw that. That was chaos. He doesn’t see the uppercut coming and finds himself on the floor without knowing how he got there.
“The second one he did see it coming and he was able to clench down on the jaw. He got up and then the experience that he has he used tonight because he tied him up. Against Andy Ruiz he didn’t know what he was doing and didn’t know how to do that, but tonight he did.
“He showed once again there is no quit. To be that hurt in the first round and get up, that’s the recoveries of power. People talk about your chin, but it’s not, it’s the level of fitness that gets you up from the floor.
“When Joshua gets a fighter hurt he’s the best finisher in the division. Whenever he hurts someone they’re gone. I haven’t seen him drop anybody and they survive, only Andy Ruiz. He’s a ruthless finisher.”
The clash between Joshua and Fury is now expected to be announced soon for later this year, after Fury won his own interim fight on Friday by defeating Mariusz Wach.
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