Eddie Hearn Reveals Anthony Joshua Will Fight ‘Only Once’ This Year, But There’s A Catch

Anthony Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) will only fight once in 2025, according to Matchroom Promoter Eddie Hearn.

AJ’s last tango in the ring was in September 2024, when he faced Daniel Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs) at Wembley Stadium for the IBF heavyweight title, albeit unsuccessfully. Now, with the boxing world buzzing about what lies ahead for the former unified champion, Matchroom’s top brass is already charting the next course, with a long-anticipated showdown finally inching closer to reality.

Talking to ESPN, Hearn spoke about AJ’s “only fight” and the possibility of his longtime foe, Tyson Fury, coming out of retirement.

“He’ll only fight once this year. He’ll be good to go in the middle of September, and by then, we will know for sure if Fury is going to return or not. But will also depend on what happens in the Dubois vs. Usyk fight. I like our spot in that respect, and if none of them are available, we’re going to fight someone else,” he said.

Fury announced his retirement, like he did countless times before, following his second loss against Oleksandr Usyk. While Hearn wants Joshua to avenge his loss against Dubois, he is certain that Fury’s retirement is temporary.

In fact, he believes that the offer of a fight against Joshua might just be a bit too enticing for Fury to overlook.

“I just don’t think he’ll be able to leave it alone. You know why? Because he’s not declining. He’s still at the peak of his powers, and it’s very difficult to walk away from a fight like Anthony Joshua when you’ve still got it. And that’s why I believe it’ll happen,” he added.

“What Would I Return For?”

Fury, on the other hand, feels that he has no reason to come out of retirement. Following the mounting voices calling for his return, the ‘Gypsy King’ took to Instagram to reveal that he is choosing to stay retired.

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“I hear a lot of talk of the Gypsy King returning to boxing. What would I return for? More boxing belts? I’ve won 22 of them. But I’m happy, I’m happy, contented with what I have achieved, what I’ve accomplished. I’ve been around the world and back again,” he said.

Joshua Ben Joseph

Joshua Ben Joseph is a Boxing writer renowned for his unparalleled coverage of live events and insightful interviews with prominent athletes in the world of combat sports. With a career spanning over several years, he has authored more than 800 articles. As an experienced editorial cartoonist and investigative journalist, Joshua has a keen eye for detail and a passion for delivering quality content. Aside from his writing, Joshua is an avid powerlifter and solo traveler, embodying the same spirit of determination and exploration that he brings to his work. With a deep love for the sport of boxing that dates back to childhood, he is committed to delivering the highest quality content and helping to build a more transparent and credible industry.

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