Anthony Joshua comeback fight date leaked as | Boxing News

Eddie Hearn has hinted at a potential boxing event in Africa this December, suggesting that Anthony Joshua would possibly make a comeback before Christmas. Joshua, a two-time heavyweight world champion, hasn’t stepped into the ring since September 2024 when he was devastatingly knocked out by Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium. The British boxer has been largely out of motion throughout 2025, but is now back in training following elbow surgical procedure.

Hearn just lately disclosed that there are ten contenders being thought-about for Joshua’s return fight, which might doubtlessly be held in Africa. The subsequent plan is to pursue a long-awaited assembly with Tyson Fury next 12 months. The ‘Gypsy King’ retired from boxing earlier this 12 months after consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk, but has dropped hints about a doable return next 12 months.

In a latest interview on Sportico and The Boxing Mob, Hearn unveiled Matchroom’s itinerary for the rest of 2025, which incorporates visits to Australia, Monaco, Birmingham, Los Angeles, and a weekend in Africa just before Christmas.

This revelation comes shortly after the boxing promoter had talks with Joshua concerning his future. He advised that ‘AJ’ would possibly step into the ring this 12 months, moderately than the beforehand focused 2026 comeback.

“I had a chat with AJ earlier in the week and it’s kind of time to make some decisions really,” he told iFL TV.

“So I flew to Dubai where he was training and had a very pleasant couple of days there. We had some really really good meetings with AJ, they were pretty positive and went there and watched him train.

“He’s training just about to full capability… his elbow that’s now absolutely healed and he desires to know what the plan is. He desires to get transferring. We’ve just bought to get it proper now.

“This is kind of like one big last roll of the dice. It could be 18 months, it could be two years, I don’t know. But he wants to get active and that’s a really good thing.

“So, you might even see him sooner moderately than later. That’s all I’ll say. But there are heaps of choices on the desk, heaps of cities to fight in, and he just he is just excited to fight again.”

The African boxing scene has gained significant momentum recently – with major shows being staged in Ghana and Nigeria, where Joshua’s parents were born.

Promoter Dr Ezekiel Adamu – who collaborated with boxing legend Amir Khan on a show in Nigeria – is keen to bring Joshua over to compete in Africa.

“Adamu disclosed that discussions are underway with Joshua’s group concerning a doable bout in Nigeria, saying: “We’ve had a preliminary conversation and we’ll keep going. We’re looking at Q1 next year.

“We all know AJ’s always said he desires to fight in Africa before the end of his profession and we imagine Nigeria is definitely the best story. Nigeria has the very best population in the entire of Africa, about 250 million people.

“Nigeria is the economic capital of the whole of Africa. The list goes on and on. We believe that we are actually poised to make that happen.”