The timeline shifted after December’s car crash in Nigeria. Joshua escaped serious physical injury, but those around fighters understand that conditioning can be rebuilt faster than emotional balance.
Eddie Hearn addressed the situation in Nottingham.
“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.”
That is the key detail. Camp first.
A heavyweight heading into ten or twelve rounds has to rebuild the right way.
Hearn is considering July but is not forcing the issue.
“So, for me, I’m looking at options to get him back in the ring in July time but we’ll only know if that’s a real possibility when he returns to camp which will hopefully be in the next couple of weeks or a month,” he said.
The Tyson Fury fight is no longer immediate.
“We’re open to the Fury fight but probably more likely near the end of the year, maybe early 2027.”
At 34, Joshua still carries heavyweight power and ring experience. The division does not slow down, and contenders continue to move through eliminators and sanctioned bouts.
Joshua’s next move depends on one thing. A complete camp.
