Eddie Hearn reveals month for Anthony Joshua return after car crash that killed his friends
Anthony Joshua has set his sights on returning to the ring in July, according to promoter Eddie Hearn, as the former heavyweight world champion continues his recovery from a devastating car accident.
The collision near Lagos in December claimed the lives of two members of Joshua’s inner circle: his long-serving strength coach Sina Ghami and personal trainer Latif “Latz” Ayodele.
Joshua himself required hospital treatment over the New Year period before returning to the United Kingdom.
The tragedy struck less than a fortnight after his sixth-round knockout victory over Jake Paul in Miami, casting significant doubt over whether the British fighter would continue his career.
Hearn revealed to BoxingScene that the initial schedule has been abandoned entirely.
“Originally, the plan with AJ was for him to fight in March and then fight Tyson Fury in August. That’s not happening. He’s not fighting Tyson Fury next,” Hearn said.
The promoter confirmed that Joshua remains unable to begin training preparations.
Anthony Joshua has set his sights on returning to the ring in July, according to promoter Eddie Hearn, as the former heavyweight world champion continues his recovery from a devastating car accident
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PA
“He’s going to come back, I believe, in late summer, but physically he’s not yet in a position to return to camp,” Hearn explained.
“So, I’m planning, but he’s just resting and preparing. I’m looking at options to get him back in the ring in July time.”
Hearn added that Joshua’s return to training could happen within the coming weeks.
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“But we’ll only know if that’s a real possibility when he returns to camp, which will hopefully be in the next couple of weeks or a month,” he noted.
Despite ruling out an immediate showdown between the two British heavyweight icons, Hearn has not closed the door on the contest entirely.
“Every fight’s dangerous coming off what he has come off,” Hearn continued.
The promoter indicated that a meeting between Joshua and Fury remains a genuine possibility further down the line, with the Gypsy King next in action in April.
“We’re open to the Tyson Fury fight, but probably that’s more likely end of the year maybe early 2027,” Hearn said.
Fury, meanwhile, is preparing to face knockout specialist Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 11 April.
Anthony Joshua could still fight Tyson Fury further down the line, according to Eddie Hearn
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PAThe bout will mark Fury’s fifth emergence from retirement, and he revealed that Joshua’s accident played a pivotal role in his decision to return.
“The biggest turning point in this comeback for me was the tragedy that happened with Anthony Joshua,” Fury said.
The 37-year-old explained that news of the crash reached him while holidaying in Thailand with his family over Christmas.
“I hear all that bad news that’s gone on and I thought, you know what, life is very short, very precious and very fragile,” Fury said.
“Tomorrow is a mystery, we have to live for today. And me living for that day, I made my mind up there and then that I’m going to come back to boxing – because it’s something that I love, I’m passionate about and that I’ve always been in love with.”
