Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is planning a return to the ring in July following a serious car accident in December, but a long-awaited fight with Tyson Fury will not be his immediate next bout, promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed.
Joshua had been coming off a sixth-round knockout of Jake Paul in Miami when the crash occurred during a visit to Nigeria over the Christmas period.
Tragically, two of his close associates and training team members, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, lost their lives, and Joshua was hospitalised.
Speaking to The Sportsman, Hearn revealed that plans for a March fight potentially leading to the Joshua-Fury showdown are now shelved.
The focus is on Joshua’s full recovery and gradual return to training camp.
“Physically, he’s not ready to go back into training camp yet, but it’s getting closer,” Hearn said.
“There’s nothing more that he wants than to return to training camp because it’s where he loves to be.”
July is the likely target for Joshua’s comeback, with venues under consideration worldwide.
Details about opponents and logistics will be finalised once he resumes full training.
Meanwhile, Tyson Fury is preparing for his own fight against Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 11, marking his first bout since his December 2024 rematch defeat to Oleksandr Usyk.
While fans will have to wait longer for a Joshua-Fury clash, Joshua’s return to full fitness and competition is now the main priority.
