Anthony Joshua Targets July Return After Camp Delay
Anthony Joshua is working toward a late-summer fight, with July under consideration if he clears the first hurdle of returning to camp. The timeline now depends on when his conditioning and mindset align after December’s fatal car crash in Nigeria.
The crash claimed the lives of two of his closest friends, Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele. Joshua walked away without serious physical injury, but anyone who has been around fighters knows the body heals quicker than the head.
Eddie Hearn laid out the adjustment this week in Nottingham.
“Originally the plan for AJ was for him to fight in March and then fight Tyson Fury in August. That’s not happening,” Hearn said.
“He’s not fighting Tyson Fury next. He’s going to come back I believe late summer, but physically he’s not yet in a position to return to camp.”
That is the only detail that matters right now. Camp first. Everything else follows.A heavyweight coming off emotional trauma does not step into twelve hard rounds without starting with the jab, resetting his feet, and rebuilding stamina one round at a time.
Hearn is floating July, but he knows better than to force it.
“So, for me, I’m looking at options to get him back in the ring in July time but we’ll only know if that’s a real possibility when he returns to camp which will hopefully be in the next couple of weeks or a month,” he said.
The Tyson Fury fight is off the immediate schedule.
“We’re open to the Fury fight but probably more likely [near the] end of the year, maybe early 2027.”
That shift tells you this is about stabilization inside the ropes. Joshua’s last few performances have leaned heavily on structure, measured pressure, and controlled shot selection. He fights best when his base is set, when the jab dictates range control, and when the right hand is delivered with full extension rather than rushed off balance.
He addressed the loss last month.
“What my goal is, is to continue to help them achieve their goals. Even though they may not be here in the physical, when I pray, I know spiritually they’re going to aid me through,” Joshua said.
“It’s not just physical strength that will get me through; it’s going to take a lot.”
Heavyweight boxing punishes hesitation. At 34, he still carries power and experience. But the heavyweight division does not pause while one man rebuilds.