EDDIE HEARN has revealed he expects Anthony Joshua to return to the ring – but the Matchroom Boxing chief admits a showdown with Tyson Fury may be gone forever.

The Watford warrior was on course to take part in a historic Battle of Britain with his long-time rival this September after a warm-up against multiple-time kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven.

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Anthony Joshua and two friends Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele sitting after a workout.
Anthony Joshua’s fighting future is in major doubt following the tragic deaths of his good friends Latif Ayodele and Sina GhamiCredit: INSTAGRAM@EDDIEHEARN
 

Anthony Joshua with Eddie Hearn and trainer Ben Davison after his fight against Francis Ngannou.
But promoter Eddie Hearn expects to see AJ back in the ring at some pointCredit: REUTERS
But his life was turned upside down last December when he was involved in a fatal car crash in his native Nigeria which killed his two close friends Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami.

Joshua, who escaped the crash with minor injuries, has yet to publicly speak about his fighting future but has vowed to honour his fallen friends.

Long-time promoter and pal Hearn believes the London 2012 gold medallist will step through the ropes again, although he admits he doesn’t know when that will be.

He told First Round TV: “I don’t think there is any guarantees he fights again.

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“But at the same time, I expect him to because it is something that he loves.

“And it is something he can carry those guys with him through as well, and it is something he wants to do.

“From a boxing sense, physically it wasn’t easy what he went through either. People probably don’t realise the extent of that.

“He has been training, but he is not ready yet and won’t be for a while to return to [full] boxing training.”

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The Home of Boxing in 2026

There’s a massive year of boxing ahead!

It’s shaping up to be a blockbuster year of action inside the boxing ring.

Tyson Fury will make his return in April against Arslanbek Makhmudov, Conor Benn is closing in on a world title shot and Fabio Wardley will defend his newly won heavyweight crown.

Canelo Alvarez will be hoping to return after his defeat to Terence Crawford and heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk will also need to defend his straps.

Derek Chisora will fight for the 50th and (perhaps) final time against Deontay Wilder, while Daniel Dubois is also on the comeback trail.

A whole bunch of British stars could also take a leap into superstardom, with the likes of Moses Itauma, Hamzah Sheeraz and Adam Azim ready to join the very top of the sport.

Here’s all the big fights coming up…

February

Sat 21 – Ryan Garcia vs Mario Barrios – WBC welterweight title – DAZN PPV
Sat 21 – Leigh Wood vs Josh Warrington – DAZN
Sun 22 – Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn – heavyweight unification – DAZN
Sat 28 – Emanuel Navarrete vs Eduardo Nunez – super-featherweight unification – DAZN

March

Sat 14 – Jazza Dickens vs Anthony Cacace – WBA super-featherweight title – DAZN
Sat 28 – Moses Itauma vs Jermaine Franklin – DAZN
Sat 28 – Sebastian Fundora vs Keith Thurman – Amazon Prime PPV

April

Sat 4 – Derek Chisora vs Deontay Wilder – DAZN PPV
Sat 11 – Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov – Netflix

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The prospect of Joshua finally settling the score with Fury, who returns to the ring in April, is something Hearn has worked hard to facilitate.

But he admits this latest curveball may very well have sunk the biggest fight in the history of British boxing once and for all.

He said: “Before this terrible incident, we were geared up to fight in March and then fight Tyson Fury.

“Obviously, that is not happening now, and I don’t know if it will ever happen right now.”

Tyson Fury celebrating with his WBC World Heavyweight Title belt, surrounded by his team.
Eddie Hearn believes a historic bout with Tyson Fury may never happen for AJCredit: ACTION IMAGES
 

I don’t know if it will ever happen right now.”

Eddie Hearn on Anthony Joshua fighting Tyson Fury

Joshua has been training in Dubai for the last few weeks, describing his sessions as “mental strength therapy”.

And Hearn fully expects his good friend to turn things up a notch in the coming months.

He said: “I think in the next few weeks and month, he may start to return.

“And just turn the dial up a little bit more on training, and see where he is at.”