

Anthony Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has confirmed that the former two-time heavyweight champion is set to make his highly anticipated return to the ring in 2025.
The announcement comes in the wake of Joshua’s devastating loss to Daniel Dubois, a fight that derailed his bid to reclaim his position as a dominant force in the boxing world.
Joshua, who turned 35 on October 15, is at a crossroads in his illustrious career. While some speculated the defeat might signal the end of his journey in professional boxing, Hearn dismissed any talk of retirement, reaffirming that the British-Nigerian remains committed to continuing his career.
“Anthony loves boxing; he’d fight forever if he could,” Hearn said.
The 2012 Olympic gold medallist entered 2023 with renewed vigour, securing four straight wins and looking poised to challenge for heavyweight supremacy once more. However, his encounter with Dubois in March 2024 proved a stumbling block. A brutal loss—following a first-round knockout victory over Francis Ngannou—reset the trajectory of his comeback.
Speaking on the loss, Hearn acknowledged the need for Joshua to regroup both mentally and physically. “After fighting four times in less than a year, Anthony needs to recharge. He’ll resume camp in January 2025, which sets him up perfectly for an April or May return to action,” he explained.
Hearn made it clear that Joshua’s return would not include tune-up fights.
“At this stage in his career, Anthony doesn’t need warm-ups,” Hearn said.
“He’s going straight in. There’s no appeal in smaller fights; it’s about making the big ones happen.”
This approach contrasts with Joshua’s previous rebuilding phase, following consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and 2022. Then, he fought Jermaine Franklin and other lower-ranked opponents to regain confidence. Now, with time not on his side, Hearn believes Joshua’s focus must shift exclusively to marquee matchups.
Despite recent setbacks, Joshua remains one of boxing’s biggest draws, both in the UK and globally. His ability to pack arenas and generate pay-per-view interest ensures he will continue to be a key player in the heavyweight division.
The next steps for Joshua largely hinge on the availability of Tyson Fury and Dubois. Fury’s bout with Usyk and Dubois’ February title defence will determine how soon negotiations can begin for either fight.
Anthony Joshua has been handed a 28-day ban from boxing, following his brutal defeat by Daniel Dubois last week.
The British fighter was knocked out in the fifth round in front of 96,000 fans at Wembley by Dubois.
This win saw the 27-year-old retain his IBF heavyweight title.
During the course of the bout, Dubois knocked Joshua down four times.
As per protocol, Joshua is now banned from stepping into the ring for 28 days, with the British Boxing Board of Control enforcing the rule.
The Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports has stipulated that it’s standard procedure for fighters to be issued medical suspensions after suffering KO and TKO defeats.
The highly anticipated bout between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois is just around the corner.
The heavy-hitting boxers are set to face off at the Wembley Stadium in London and the stakes are high as Anthony Joshua, 34, is looking to become a three-time world heavyweight champion, while Daniel Dubois, 27, puts his IBF heavyweight title on the line.
Joshua, the World Boxing Organization’s (WBO’s) number 1 contender exhibits a laudable record, with a notable knockout win over Francis Ngannou in his last match. However, Dubois earned a Technical Knock-out (TKO) win over Filip Hrgovic to claim the vacant interim heavyweight championship
The winner will also earn a spot to challenge the winner of the upcoming rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury.
The boxing bout will take place on Saturday, September 21, 2024.
The Dubois vs. Joshua fight is set to take place at London’s iconic Wembley Stadium. The event kicks off at 4 PM, with the highly anticipated main event scheduled for approximately 11 PM, following an exciting lineup of undercard bouts.
Where to Watch: The fight will likely be broadcast on popular sports networks or pay-per-view services like DAZN, Sky Sports Box Office, or ESPN. Streaming options may also be available depending on the region.
Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois will clash in a highly anticipated IBF world heavyweight title fight on Saturday at Wembley Stadium.
The highly anticipated bout between the two British heavyweights is expected to draw huge attention, and according to Sporty Salaries, as reported by the Manchester Evening News, Joshua is set to earn a guaranteed purse of £6 million (N13billion) for the fight. Depending on pay-per-view sales, his earnings could soar beyond £25 million (N54billion), with Joshua holding a 60/40 split advantage as the A-side.
Dubois, 27, is expected to earn a guaranteed £3.5 million, potentially rising to £10 million if pay-per-view numbers hit their mark, making this the biggest payday of his career. His previous high was a £1.6 million payout for his defeat to Usyk.
Joshua aims to reclaim the IBF world heavyweight title, while Dubois seeks to defend his championship. Joshua, determined to reestablish himself as the top British heavyweight, could become only the sixth fighter in history to claim the heavyweight crown three times if he defeats Dubois.
Despite successive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk denting his star power, the 34-year-old Joshua has bounced back with four straight victories to set up this title clash with Dubois, who inherited the IBF belt after Usyk vacated it.
This fight is also one of Joshua’s most lucrative, despite not including pay-per-view bonuses or other performance-related fees. Previously, Joshua pocketed an estimated £39.8 million from his bout with Francis Ngannou, with reports suggesting he earned £3.3 million for each punch landed in his knockout victory.
Final figures for the fight purse will be confirmed after the event on September 21st, but it’s clear that Joshua and Dubois are both set for significant paydays.
Ahead of their IBF heavyweight world title fight this weekend, Daniel Dubois has threatened to make Anthony Joshua “quit”.
The two boxers faced off on the banks of the River Thames on Monday.
Dubois has now said he is not just looking to knock Joshua out.
According to him, he wants to inflict something on his opponent which, for a boxer, is worse than that.
“I’ve got to make him quit, break him down, That’s my mindset going into this.
“Making him quit, breaking him. I believe I can,” Dubois told Sky Sports.
Wembley Stadium has officially sold out for the highly anticipated IBF heavyweight world title showdown between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois, scheduled for September 21.
The clash, which promises to be one of the biggest nights in boxing this year, has drawn enormous attention, with fans quickly snapping up all available general admission tickets.
The event, set to feature a stacked undercard and a performance by British rock icon Liam Gallagher, has generated immense buzz. Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, confirmed that all standard tickets have been sold, leaving only a limited number of platinum and hospitality options for those still hoping to witness the action live.
For Joshua, Wembley holds a special significance. It was here that he delivered his career-defining victory over Wladimir Klitschko in 2017, a bout that solidified his status as a global boxing superstar. He also secured a decisive win against Alexander Povetkin at the same arena.
However, this time around, Joshua enters the ring as the challenger, facing Dubois, who was recently elevated to full IBF champion after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the title.
Dubois, 26, views this opportunity as the chance to stamp his authority on the heavyweight division.
With a rigorous training camp under the guidance of his coach, Don Charles, Dubois is confident he can defeat the former champion
“I’m just aiming to be the best. To fight the best and beat the best,” Dubois said.
“AJ has been the king for a long time, and we all know it, so on the night, I need to become a king-slayer. That’s my goal, and that’s the mission at hand. I’ve improved all around as a fighter and an athlete. I’m really up for this and ready to go.”
Joshua, fully aware of the magnitude of the task ahead, remains focused and determined, saying, “I’m not silly, either; I know the game. We’re all in the wild. We’re a pack of lions and hunters. It’s the next man up. I’ve had Dubois on my mind for a while.
“The goal is just to get through a successful training camp and then perform on the night.”
As the excitement continues to build, the sold-out crowd at Wembley is set to witness a battle of generations.
Joshua, with his wealth of experience and championship pedigree, is eager to reclaim his throne, while Dubois seeks to announce himself as the new force in heavyweight
boxing.
Former Boxing Heavyweight champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua exchanged verbals on FaceTime as they were brought together by Saudi Arabian sports promoter, Turki Alalshikh.
The moment happened after it was announced on Wednesday, June 26 that Joshua and Daniel Dubois will headline a bumper card at Wembley Stadium on September 21.
AJ will clash against his fellow British boxer for the IBF heavyweight world title, which was vacated this week by Oleksandr Usyk.
Despite preparing for Dubois, Joshua is still keeping one eye on a match with Fury.. Joshua bas lost three times in his career while Fury has lost just once.
Fury last fell to defeat against Usyk in their undisputed heavyweight title clash in May but a rematch is set for December 21.
Should Fury win, Joshua is tipped to be his next opponent as a the FaceTime with Alalshikh proved.
“Champ, finish the job on 21 of December and look who’s waiting for you,” the Saudi boxing chief said to Fury on the phone next to Joshua.
“I’m waiting for you!” said Joshua, before ‘The Gypsy King’ insisted: “I’ll get the f****** job done [against Usyk]!”
Even if Fury was to lose, Joshua insisted that he’s waiting for him, something that was echoed by Alalshikh, who said he’d arrange the fight for the first or second quarter of 2025.
“This can’t wait,” Joshua added with a grin and pointing to his right fist, with Fury replying: “I’ve got two of them as well!”
AJ then implied he should use his fists instead of his mouth, but Fury cheekily responded: “I’ll use them both on your face you big ugly dosser!”
Joshua also jokingly said his fellow heavyweight looked like a tomato and should put on sunscreen.
“I’ve got to get Usyk dealt with first, again,” said Fury, although AJ replied: “Again? You ain’t dealt with him once yet.”
Alalshikh then reminded ‘The Gypsy King’ of the task on December 21, with victory potentially setting up a historic all-British fight.
Watch the video below :
Turki Alalshikh FaceTimes Tyson Fury while he’s sat with Anthony Joshua and both go at each other 🔥🔥
— J Stewart (@triffic_stuff_) June 26, 2024
AJ: “ I’m waiting for you”
Fury: “I’ll use both fists on your head you big ugly dosser!” pic.twitter.com/jLOoXMlMc7