Anthony Joshua return being planned for July, but not against Tyson Fury, as former heavyweight champion eyes training comeback after car accident
Published 20/02/2026 at 13:53 GMT
React to this story
Almost two months on from the tragic car accident in Nigeria that killed two of his close friends, Anthony Joshua is expected to make an imminent return to training and could be in the ring again by July. That is according to promoter Eddie Hearn, who also revealed that plans for a fight with Tyson Fury have changed, and could be pushed back to later this year or early 2027.
Highlights: Dubois batters Joshua in heavyweight classic at Wembley
Video credit: TNT Sports
Anthony Joshua could make his return to the ring in July, according to Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn.
The former two-time unified world heavyweight champion was involved in a car accident in December that left two of his close friends dead.
Joshua did not suffer severe injuries, but it was unclear if and when he would compete again.
Hearn has now revealed that the 36-year-old, who most recently fought Jake Paul in Miami, could be back in the ring this summer.
"I'm looking at options to get him back in the ring in July," Hearn told the press in Nottingham on Thursday. "We'll only know if that's a real possibility when he returns to camp."
Hearn also outlined plans for Joshua's next opponents amid ongoing talk of a fight with Tyson Fury, who came out of retirement again last month.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/02/20/image-5f14c5d5-d664-4243-8a2b-08611002def6.jpeg)
Anthony Joshua
Image credit: Getty Images
"Originally, the plan for AJ was for him to fight in March and then fight Tyson Fury in August. That's not happening," Hearn said.
"He's not fighting Tyson Fury next. He's going to come back, I believe, late summer, but physically he's not yet in a position to return to camp. I'm planning, but he's just resting and preparing."
Hearn added that Joshua's return to camp "will hopefully be in the next couple of weeks or a month".
On a potential date for the Fury fight, he said: "I think every fight is dangerous, coming off what he's come off. We're open to the Fury fight but probably more likely [near the] end of the year, maybe early 2027."
Fury, meanwhile, has said Joshua's accident in Nigeria was a factor in his decision to come out of retirement, with The Gypsy King set to fight Arslanbek Makhmudov on April 11.
- Fury hits back at critics ahead of return to boxing
- Joshua pays tribute to 'special' friends after car crash
"The biggest turning point in this comeback for me was a tragedy that happened with Anthony Joshua," revealed Fury.
"I was on holiday with my family in Thailand for Christmas, then I hear all that bad news that's gone on, and I thought life is very, very short and very precious and very fragile and anything can happen at any given moment.
"You should never put things off until tomorrow or next year or next week, because tomorrow is never promised to nobody.
"The Bible says 'Tomorrow is not a gift, tomorrow ain't promised, tomorrow is a mystery'. So we have to live for today.
"I made my mind up there and then that I'm going to come back to boxing because it's something that I love, and I'm passionate about, and I've always been in love with, and there is no tomorrow to put it off too, so that's why I'm back today for this big fight."
The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports and entertainment in one destination.
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement