Anthony Joshua’s 2025 calendar is beginning to take shape as Eddie Hearn named the two perfect opponents for his comeback.
It looked as if all roads led to an undisputed title shot against one of Oleksandr Usyk or Tyson Fury, however, those plans were derailed after a fifth-round stoppage defeat to Daniel Dubois knocked him right down the pecking order.
The two-time Olympic champion is now at a crossroads as any hopes of a huge title shot look all-but-over, especially now that the Brit is 35.
There were some suggestions that Joshua could call time on his career but Matchroom promoter Hearn has hinted at what next year could look like, with two names mentioned.
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Eddie Hearn names two opponents Anthony Joshua could face in 2025
Realistically for Anthony Joshua, there aren’t many good fights out there.
Talks of a rematch against Dubois were soon quashed after he opted to agree to fight Joseph Parker on the undercard of the Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol rematch in February 2025.
Despite having to wait, Eddie Hearn has hinted that Joshua will keep an eye on how Dubois faces against the New Zealand heavyweight star while also admitting that Joshua vs Fury is the fight that all British fans want to see.
Hearn confirmed that Joshua would fight next year, saying: “We’re not in a terrible rush. AJ will fight twice in 2025. Once in the summer and once in the winter. If we can’t make the Dubois fight and if Fury don’t want to fight, then you have to make the decision to fight somebody, or do you wait for those fights?
“I can’t speak on behalf of AJ, for who he’s prepared to fight, but what I know is the focus is Daniel Dubois or Tyson Fury. Of course, he’s [Joshua] done it all. If he gets Fury on his resume, he’s boxed virtually everybody of his era.”
Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury is the only fight that makes sense
If we’re being brutally honest, Joshua’s days of challenging for the top of the heavyweight crown are over.
Two defeats to Usyk and one to Dubois mean he isn’t a serious contender and in each of those fights, has looked second-best in all of them.
Everybody is keen to see him fight Fury, who has lost back-to-back fights in what would be the perfect way for the duo to close the curtain on their incredible careers.
It’s a fight that has been years in the making and as Hearn rightfully pointed out, Joshua taking on his British counterpart would mean he’s genuinely faced everyone he could’ve possibly fought in his career.
Neither one of the two would lose any credit for facing each other too and with both edging closer to retirement, it would be the ultimate final gift to a sport both have dedicated their lives to.