Eddie Hearn has confirmed that Anthony Joshua will make his return to the ring in the summer of 2025. The 35-year-old heavyweight’s future had been uncertain after a series of disappointing performances, including his losses to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and a lackluster comeback against Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius.
After hiring a fifth trainer, Ben Davison, who had previously worked with Tyson Fury, Joshua seemed to find new motivation, securing knockout wins over Otto Wallin and Francis Ngannou. These victories set up a potential shot at the IBF heavyweight title against Daniel Dubois.
However, Joshua’s attempt to reclaim a title against Dubois in September 2023 ended in an unexpected defeat. Despite this setback, Joshua and Hearn expressed interest in a rematch, but the scheduled date of February 22nd was too soon, as Joshua was still recovering from injuries sustained in their first fight.
Many fans have questioned when Joshua will return, but Hearn reassured them that Joshua will be back in the summer of 2025. “He had 5 fights in 18 months, he will be fine,” Hearn said.
As for potential opponents, the long-awaited showdown with Tyson Fury could still be a possibility, especially if Fury loses to Oleksandr Usyk in their upcoming match.