Anthony Joshua is due back in the boxing ring early in 2026 and a list of possible opponents has now taken shape.
Joshua is a former two-time unified world heavyweight champion but is currently in the midst of his longest ever spell out of the ring.
‘AJ’ last fought back in September 2024 when he attempted to take the IBF title off Daniel Dubois. However, his dreams were shattered following an early knockdown then a stoppage inside five rounds.
Ahead of that he had fought a who’s who of divisional stars from Wladimir Klitschko and Dillian Whyte to Alexander Povetkin and Oleksandr Usyk, who is the man that beat him twice to leave him belt-less in 2021 and 2022.
Over the last year, he has been linked with comeback fights against a wide range of opponents, and now speaking to Sky Sports, his promoter Eddie Hearn has said there are 10 possible contests he could take, including a former Olympian.
“Tony Yoka, he’s definitely on a list of, I don’t know, ten?”
He then outlined what sort of level the others on the list occupy.
“I expect it to be a top 20 guy. It’s not going to be top five. This is a comeback fight that should possess some danger to show that we’re ready to roll the dice in a massive fight. Nothing really discussed, no offers made. But I’ll be going to see AJ next week and we’re ready to lock it in.”
The one fight everyone wants to see is with Tyson Fury. Though Fury is retired, there is hope he would come back for one last dance with his long-time rival, and it’s a fight Joshua has long been keen on.
