Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is preparing for a return to the boxing ring after months of recovery and personal loss. The British-Nigerian fighter is expected to enter training camp soon as plans begin to take shape for his next fight.
The anticipated Anthony Joshua comeback fight comes after a difficult period in the boxer’s life. Joshua survived a serious road accident in Nigeria that tragically claimed the lives of two of his close friends.
However, the two-time heavyweight champion now appears ready to restart his career. His promoter has revealed that preparations for a possible summer bout are already underway. Joshua, 36, last fought on December 19 when he defeated YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. The bout ended in the sixth round after Joshua stopped his opponent.
However, tragedy struck just ten days later. The boxer was involved in a horrific road accident in Nigeria. The crash resulted in the deaths of two individuals close to him. They were Kevin “Latz” Ayodele and recovery therapist Sina Ghami.
Meanwhile, Joshua survived the accident but suffered injuries during the incident. Since then, time has been spent recovering physically and coping with the loss. Despite the painful experience, signs of a return to boxing have now emerged.
Joshua has reportedly resumed light workouts at Finchley, the amateur gym where he first started boxing.
His promoter Eddie Hearn recently revealed that the fighter may soon return to full training.
He said: “We’re very close to returning to training camp.
“And I feel like AJ is physically and perhaps mentally ready to throw himself back in to that environment.”
Hearn also acknowledged that the events of the past months have been extremely difficult.
“And it’s exciting, I mean, for everything that he’s been through and all the pain, I don’t think that will leave.
“But he has a career and he has a job to do in that respect, which he wants to continue doing. And I’m excited to see him back.”
According to Hearn, fighters often feel their best when they are preparing for a bout. He explained that the discipline of training can help them regain focus.
“I feel like with fighters some may disagree watching this but generally I feel like they’re at their happiest when they’re in training camp.
“Like everything’s there. The regiment is there, the discipline is there, the focus is there, intention’s there, the end goal is there.
“And although it’s a lot of hard work, I really feel like AJ as well when he’s in training camp, that’s him.”
Earlier talks suggested that the bout could take place in Saudi Arabia. However, Fury is currently scheduled to face Arslanbek Makhmudov in a comeback fight at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 11. Because of this, Joshua may first return to the ring in a summer fight. Hearn suggested that a major British showdown could follow later in the year.
“The March fight now becomes probably July, and if the Fury fight is still there, that probably becomes November, something like that,” he said.
For now, no final decision has been made regarding Joshua’s next opponent. Hearn explained that everything depends on how the boxer feels once he returns to full training.
“With everything that’s happened, I expect him to have a fight first and that fight to come in the summer.
“But you never know how he feels, and you might feel fantastic, and he might say, ‘Let’s let’s go straight in.’ I don’t think so.”
Therefore, fans will have to wait until Joshua fully resumes training before the final plan is confirmed.
