Joshua Could Return in 2025 — Even in an Eight-Round Fight

Eddie Hearn, head of Matchroom Boxing, has revealed that former Heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua could return to the ring as early as 2025 — potentially in a shorter, eight-round bout.

“The likelihood of Joshua getting back in the ring this year is about fifty-fifty. Sometimes, when I mention these things, there’s an immediate uproar, but if you think from a boxing perspective rather than a financial or commercial one, it makes sense.

Every time Joshua fights, it’s a huge event — stadiums, fanfare — and he’s like, ‘Okay, here we go again.’ But if he fights on an undercard, it would allow him to get back into rhythm, which could be very useful for his career.

We’re just trying to prepare, because this may be the final serious phase of his career, and he needs to be fully ready for it. Now it all comes down to logistics.

He first asked if he could just fight on one of our shows in Mexico, and I told him: ‘Mate, I can’t hide you if you’re walking around Tijuana.’

But we have a show on December 13 in California, and possibly another one in November. I don’t think it’s logical right now to send him to Ghana, but there is an option for a card in Riyadh on December 27.

We might not even announce it in advance, because that would defeat the purpose. He’s training, staying in shape, so we could just say: ‘You’re out in two weeks for an eight-round fight,’” said Hearn.

Anthony Joshua has not boxed since 2024, when he suffered a stoppage loss to Daniel Dubois. He later underwent elbow surgery and is currently in the recovery phase.