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.

Anthony Joshua Accused Of Avoiding Heavyweight Rival For Comeback

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.

JUST IN: Floyd Mayweather hints at shock return to boxing after Mike Tyson

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.

Anthony Joshua receives update on future in boxing as promoter targets ‘roll of the dice’ fight

Former world champion Anthony Joshua is set to see his immediate future in the ring thrashed out in the coming days, ahead of one final lucrative outing.

Missing out on a planned return to combat before the end of the year, Anthony Joshua had entered the sweepstakes to take on the polarizing Jake Paul in a return; however, the Ohio native is now booked to face Gervonta Davis in November.

JUST IN: Jake Paul Announces Major Change to Gervonta Davis Fight

And with a comeback potentially as soon as January now in the works as part of a historic trip to Africa for the former gold holder, Joshua is seemingly approaching a career swan song.

That swan song in question also appears to be in relation to the biggest fights in the division, culminating in a summer showdown.

Anthony Joshua backed for one last ‘roll of the dice’ clash in 2026

Not having it all his own way in the ring in the last couple of years, beyond an impressive four-fight rise in non-title fights, Joshua came unstuck in back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk.

And in his last venture to the ring, the Watford star was stopped in brutal fashion by Daniel Dubois, who launched an assault on the IBF heavyweight crown.

However, with a potential January return expected to serve as a warm-up clash, Joshua has been tipped to secure one final lucrative “roll of the dice” fight against a fellow household name by this time next year.

“He (Joshua) needs to get back in the groove against a top twenty guy, that he can go in, blow the cobwebs off, look good and gear himself up for the last big roll of the dice,” Eddie Hearn said on The Ariel Helwani Show.

“Right now, I would say January or February in Africa is very common, and I would be looking to head out to see AJ next week to try and finalise some plans.”

And amid plans for one final pageantry showdown, a particular fight has been mooted once more in the boxing scene.

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua urged to fight by boxing royalty

On a collision course inside the ring for years at this stage, former world champion stars Joshua and his British compatriot, Tyson Fury, have failed to ever get a pairing over the line.

And it’s the belief of former undisputed world champion Lennox Lewis that if they fail to ever make good on their rumored fight, they would end their gold-laden career with a certain regret.

Lewis warned that based on his experience, he would have regretted not bookending his era in boxing with his fight against Mike Tyson, akin to a 2026 fight between Joshua and Fury.