Eddie Hearn has now stated that Anthony Joshua is most likely to return to the ring in March.
Following his rematch defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in August, AJ entered talks to jump straight back in and challenge Tyson Fury in December, though these negotiations ultimately collapsed at contract stages.
Now, promoter Eddie Hearn has told a group of reporters: “He was just p***ed off.
“He just sort of lost faith a little bit with boxing because he really wanted to fight Tyson Fury.
“I think that’s the main reason he didn’t fight this year.
“It sort of messed up his mojo and made him think, ‘What are these people doing?’
“That’s why you’re gonna see him fight maybe at the end of February, but probably March.
“We were going through opponents tonight and I think he’s now gonna have the rest of the year off probably and start camp at the beginning of January.”
Regarding potential opponents, Hearn added: “I couldn’t say a fight to AJ that he doesn’t [accept]…
“He just wants to fight everybody.
“It’s just a case of whether he has an easier fight before he goes into a Deontay Wilder or a Dillian Whyte basically.
“I think Otto Wallin’s a very fair fight for AJ to come back to.
“Filip Hrgovic is a great fight, he’s IBF mandatory.
“I think the winner of Dillian Whyte vs Jermaine Franklin is a very, very good frontrunner for his next fight.”
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News Summary:
- Anthony Joshua’s next fight likely for March with Dillian Whyte vs Jermaine Franklin winner the frontrunner as Eddie Hearn says AJ ‘lost faith with boxing’ after failed Tyson Fury talks
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