Eddie Hearn says that Anthony Joshua could still fight before the year is out, and told Ring Magazine that a possible return could come in a lower-stakes fight on an undercard.
Hearn said it’s “probably 50/50” that Joshua will fight in 2025.
“If he goes on an undercard somewhere, it gives him a chance to get in the flow again, and it would be very beneficial to his career,” the promoter said. “We’ve got December 13 in California. There is also the show in Riyadh on December 27. It might not even be something
we announce weeks and weeks before.
“He is in the gym staying ready, so we could say, ‘You’re out in two weeks in an eight-rounder.’”
This idea tends to go against everything else said about the remaining career plans for Joshua (28-4, 25 KO), which is that he wants the biggest money fights. He wasn’t negotiating to face Jake Paul to defend the pride and honor of proper professional boxing, it was about money. Same as the reason he fought Francis Ngannou. And Joshua, who has churned money from his pro debut and onward, has earned the right at age 36 to pretty much do as he pleases, and pass on anything that doesn’t fit his plans. He’s been one of boxing’s biggest stars since turning pro in 2012.
It seems unlikely that Joshua would take some eight-round fight on an undercard, because he is a money-making main eventer and has been pretty much his entire pro career. That said, the way the business behind shows in Riyadh works means you could stick him on one of those, because they’re not so much about selling tickets or anything.
More probable is that Joshua will return in 2026 and target some big name or other.
Joshua last fought in September 2024, when he was knocked out in the fifth round of a thrilling battle with Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium.
