Anthony Joshua’s return could snap interesting 10-year stat as promoter hints at new fight date

Anthony Joshua’s return to boxing has seen another twist in this seemingly never-ending tale.

Gearing up for his comeback to the ring for the first time since his stunning knockout loss to Daniel Dubois over a year ago, former two-time heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua has yet to land an opponent for the clash.

And linked most recently to a showdown with Russian giant Arslanbek Makhmudov off the back of his win over Dave Allen, Joshua seemed set for a 2026 return to action.

READ: Anthony Joshua’s Next Opponent ‘Confirmed’ And it’s Not Tyson Fury

However, in a new update, the Watford native may be returning sooner than expected, in a setting which would snap his lengthy spree.

Anthony Joshua may compete before 2026

In a new update from Matchroom Boxing leader Eddie Hearn, the Dagenham promoter revealed Joshua could feature as soon as the last months of 2025.

And to boot, according to the veteran boxing matchmaker, Joshua would be placed on the undercard of a potential end-of-year show.

If that were the case, Joshua would be fighting in a clash outside of a main event for the first time in 10 years, when he improved to 13-0 with a knockout of Kevin Johnson on the undercard of Kell Brook’s showdown with Frankie Gavin.

“All I’m saying is, if he (Anthony Joshua) fights this year, it will just be a ‘run out’ fight,” Hearn told IFL TV. “Because, coming back and fighting in a big arena, in a tough fight after being out for a year and a half, it’s not easy.

“And it ain’t about the money [in] this fight this year,” Hearn explained. “…It’s 50/50 if he fights this year, but if he will (sic), he’ll be added to a card. He won’t be headlining.”

Anthony Joshua picked to knock out ‘dangerous’ star.

Having shared the ring with the above-mentioned 6ft 5in Makhmudov, veteran British star Allen has weighed in a potential fight between the Russian and his compatriot.

And having trained with the Olympic gold medalist in the past, Allen raved over the power of Makhmudov.

But as far as he’s concerned, Joshua holds the tools to likely finish Makhmudov — early, in fact.

I think I’d pick (Anthony) Joshua to beat him (Arslanbek Makhmudov). I think Joshua will flatten him in a couple rounds. But he’s a dangerous guy though, so it’d be a good fight while it lasted,” Allen told Boxing King Media.

Anthony Joshua’s next opponent has been ‘confirmed’ and a ‘deal’ is supposedly in place for a big fight next year.

Joshua hasn’t fought since his crushing knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium last year.

But a comeback is in the works, having undergone surgery on his elbow in May to correct an injury that had sidelined him from training.

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A bout in Africa has been mooted, with Nigeria and Ghana rumoured as countries to host a mega event, ahead of a potential all-British battle against Tyson Fury, who is expected to return to action next year.

A proposed clash against Fury would likely take place in the summer, paving the way for a tune-up at the start of 2026.

Several names have been linked with a fight against Joshua, including Martin Bakole and Tony Yoka.

But, according to Arslanbek Makhmudov, he has a ‘deal’ in place to fight Joshua next year, having beaten Dave Allen on Saturday.

Makhmudov beat Allen by unanimous decision in Sheffield to seemingly punch his ticket for a meeting against ‘AJ’.

Speaking after his hard-fought win, where he had two points deducted for holding, the towering Russian contender confirmed a fight with Joshua following talks on social media.

“I already have a deal with him,” he told Boxing News. “We spoke with him in Instagram. He said, ‘Okay go fight with Dave Allen and [we] fight next year’. He confirmed. Now it’s his turn.”

Makhmudov has won 21 of his 23 professional matches and is on a two-fight winning streak following his defeat to Guido Vianello last year.

What has Eddie Hearn said about Anthony Joshua?

Hearn has remained tight-lipped on who Joshua will return against, but he insists his client is hellbent on facing Fury.

A fight between Fury and Joshua could break all records in the UK given the profile of each men and their long-standing rivalry.

“It’s exactly what everybody wanted to hear,” Hearn said of Fury’s expected return to the ring. “The thing that AJ wants more than anything, is to fight Tyson Fury.

“That is the biggest fight in the sport… I’m hopeful.”

He added: “The only thing that is close to that level [for Joshua] is to win the world heavyweight championship again, which is a big motivation for him.”

Like Joshua, Fury also hasn’t fought this year. The ‘Gypsy King’ suffered a points defeat to Oleksandr Usyk last year.

Anthony Joshua agrees to fight Russian giant who revealed 2026 comeback deal

A fresh challenger has entered the sweepstakes to take on Anthony Joshua in his boxing return.

Drawing notable links to a host of potential fights in his return to action as soon as next year, former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is targeted to fight in a historic trip to Africa next.

And with a laundry list of contenders lining up to welcome Joshua back to the ring for the first time in over a year, the Watford native has been encouraged to spoil the comeback of Oleksandr Usyk first and foremost.

READ: Deontay Wilder’s manager provides positive update on ‘enormous’ Anthony Joshua fight

However, putting a potential showdown with Tyson Fury on the line, Joshua has been issued a challenge by a towering Russian star — who claims he’s already agreed to fight the Olympian next year.

Arslanbek Makhmudov reveals agreement to face Anthony Joshua

Tasked with knocking back the British veteran Dave Allen in a headliner this weekend in Sheffield, 6ft 5in heavyweight talent Arslanbek Makhmudov has entered the sweepstakes to take on Joshua.

Towering over his Doncaster rival ahead of their pairing, Makhmudov and Allen are tipped to land a massive clash with another former world champion, whoever emerges with a win in their pivotal clash.

However, in another twist in the tale of Joshua’s return, Makhmudov has claimed he has already been broached a fight with the Watford star — a pairing he has agreed to take if he prevails with a win over Allen.

“Yeah, we just spoke a little bit on Instagram,” Makhmudov said of a fight with Joshua during an interview with Boxing News. “Just friendly, you know. And I offered him as a next fight, he said, ‘Okay, next year then. Next year we can do it.’

“For me, the fight is interesting because it’s a good opportunity,” Makhmudov explained. “And in sport, because we had a bit of a story in the amateurs. He lost to guys in the European championship and the world championship — I beat these two guys. For me, it’s interesting.”

Anthony Joshua called out for Nigeria clash against ex-sparring partner

And while agreeing to fight Makhmudov — albeit during a text message exchange — Joshua continues to find himself linked to another pairing with a familiar name from his past.

Targeting an early 2026 return to the ring in a historic trip to Africa, Joshua was first tied to a showdown in Ghana; however, in recent days, an event featuring the former world champion closer to his roots in Nigeria has been floated.

And former training partner of Joshua, Congolese heavyweight star Martin Bakole has expressed his interest in fighting his ex-sparring rival, having rebounded from his thudding loss to Joseph Parker.

Anthony Joshua ‘ready to pull the trigger’ on boxing comeback as promoter reveals new frustration

With a return to boxing seemingly gathering pace each day, Anthony Joshua is as “ready” as ever to make his anticipated comeback to the ring.

Still yet to land a specific opponent for his return to combat, former two-time world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua has been linked with a whole host of potential matchups next.

And seemingly gearing up for a historic return at the beginning of next year on new soil, Watford star Joshua is primed to go, according to his long-time promoter.

READ: Why Anthony Joshua was again targeted by retired star

However, whilst “ready” to compete again, the Olympian has been dealing with a rather lengthy period of frustration.

Anthony Joshua frustrated by Daniel Dubois performance

Sidelined for just over a year at this stage, former world champion Joshua has been out of action since his hellacious knockout defeat to compatriot Daniel Dubois.

Finding himself on the receiving end of a brutal knockout at the hands of the former IBF heavyweight champion, Joshua had been finished for the second time in his career following a previous shock knockout loss to Andy Ruiz.

And according to long-time promoter, Eddie Hearn, Joshua, while gearing up for a return to the ring, is more than “frustrated” with the recent defeat to Dubois.

“He’s (Anthony Joshua) kinda ready now — ready to pull the trigger, which is exciting,” Hearn told Boxing News. “You know, it’s been a really frustrating period — a year — kinda like a mix of definite disappointment.

“He definitely suffered with that defeat from (Daniel) Dubois, personally,” Hearn explained. “I know he loves to put on a brave face and talk to everyone and be that guy. I know how much that defeat hurt him. And I know how much defeats hurt him in general.”

Anthony Joshua’s potential return opponent

Set to take a “roll of the dice” fight in his return to action, Joshua has been ruled out of some notable fights already by his promoter in his immediate return to the ring.

And expected to take a sizable trip to Africa in his comeback to the squared circle, Joshua has seen a frontrunner in terms of opponent sounded out by the above-mentioned Hearn, too.

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Anthony Joshua has not competed inside the boxing ring since September 2024.

In the 12 months since, he has been receiving from a minor elbow injury and biding his time for a final run at the heavyweight division.

Last time out, the former two time unified heavyweight ruler was stopped inside five rounds by Daniel Dubois. After that defeat, many fans had hoped he would go on to have a generational showdown with Tyson Fury, though Fury instead retired after losing for a second time to Oleksandr Usyk back in December.

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Another man that Joshua has been linked to over the years is dangerous heavyweight Martin Bakole, who is trained by recent world title winning trainer Billy Nelson.

Speaking to Seconds Out, Nelson was asked if there was an offer on the table for Bakole to fight ‘AJ.’

“Nah, they don’t want to fight Martin Bakole. If they want to fight Martin Bakole the answer is yes, right now, the answer is yes.”

This contest has long been mooted as a possible fight to take to Africa with Joshua having Nigerian heritage and Bakole hailing from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, formerly Zaire, which famously hosted The Rumble in the Jungle in 1974 when George Foreman and Muhammad Ali fought in one of the most watched televised events of the time.

Right now, neither man has an opponent lined up, with Joshua set to return in early 2026, potentially in Lagos. Now 35 and with four losses on his ledger, he will need to choose wisely in this final chapter of his decorated career.

Bakole, meanwhile, was stopped by Parker as a late stand-in back in February and drew with Efe Ajagba in May.