Eddie Hearn Reveals Anthony Joshua's Potential July Comeback Following Tragic Accident
Promoter Eddie Hearn has disclosed that Anthony Joshua is eyeing a return to professional boxing as early as July, marking a sooner-than-expected comeback after a devastating car crash in late 2025. The two-time heavyweight champion has been recovering both physically and mentally since the incident, which resulted in the deaths of his two close friends and long-time team members, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele.
Tragedy Strikes After Joshua's Knockout Victory
Joshua's plans for a blockbuster 2026 were abruptly halted by tragedy just four days after Christmas 2025. The British boxer had delivered a stunning knockout victory over Jake Paul in December, setting the stage for a highly anticipated year in the ring. However, while on holiday in Nigeria, Joshua was involved in a fatal car accident when his SUV collided with a stationary truck.
Miraculously, Joshua escaped with only minor injuries after swapping seats with Ayodele shortly before the crash. The accident claimed the lives of Ghami and Ayodele, who had been integral parts of Joshua's team for years. Since the incident, Joshua has refrained from public discussions about his boxing future but has been spotted resuming training in the Middle East, where he now resides.
Hearn's Cautious Approach and Revised Timeline
Hearn, who has promoted Joshua since his professional debut after the 2012 Olympics, has been careful not to impose any strict deadlines on the heavyweight's recovery. "Originally the plan with 'AJ' was for him to fight in March and then fight Tyson Fury in August," Hearn told BoxingScene. "That's not happening. He's not fighting Tyson Fury next."
Instead, Hearn is now focusing on a late summer return, with July emerging as the target date. "He's going to come back, I believe, in late summer, but physically he's not yet in a position to return to camp," Hearn explained. "So, I'm planning, but he's just resting and preparing. 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."
Future Opponents and the Tyson Fury Fight
The highly anticipated bout between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, which has been postponed numerous times over the past six years, will not be Joshua's comeback fight. Hearn confirmed that Fury is scheduled to face Russian heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov in April, delaying any potential clash with Joshua.
"I think every fight's dangerous coming off what he's come off, but, yeah, I think we're open to the Tyson Fury fight, but probably that's more likely end of the year – maybe early 2027," Hearn stated. This adjustment reflects the need for Joshua to ease back into competition after such a traumatic event.
Key Points in Joshua's Recovery and Comeback Plan
- Joshua's return is tentatively scheduled for July, following a car accident in late 2025 that killed two of his close friends.
- He escaped with minor injuries after swapping seats with Latif Ayodele just before the crash.
- Hearn emphasizes that Joshua's recovery is both physical and mental, with no rush to return.
- The planned fight with Tyson Fury has been postponed, with a potential matchup now eyed for late 2026 or early 2027.
- Joshua has been training in the Middle East but has not yet returned to full camp preparation.
As Joshua continues his recovery, the boxing world awaits his official return, with Hearn's July target offering a glimmer of hope for fans eager to see the former champion back in action.
