‘Joshua to return in May’, says Hearn

British promoter Eddie Hearn has announced that Anthony Joshua will not be stepping back into the ring until at least May next year, quashing any chance of an early rematch with IBF world heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois.

Joshua, who previously held the heavyweight title twice, faced a tough bout against Dubois in September at Wembley, where he was knocked down four times before suffering a fifth-round knockout.

Originally, a rematch had been slated for February 22, positioning the Watford-born fighter for a critical showdown to reclaim his standing.

However, Hearn disclosed that Joshua, now 35, is still recovering from injuries sustained during the fight, and the February timeline is too soon for his full return to form.

He said, “We had a very awkward call,” he told Boxing News

“He wanted to fight on February 22 and basically was told that there is no way you can start camp and be 100 per cent for February 22 physically.

“There’s nothing major.

“There are two or three issues that he had a little bit in camp and after the fight.

“And they said you need to come back in May-June, and he didn’t want to do it.

“He wanted to fight on February 22, but unfortunately we kind of had to overrule him on this and say no because we can’t afford not to get this right.

“If you get beaten again by Daniel Dubois, you have to seriously consider your future.

“We got one last chapter in this career that we need to make sure we get a 100 per cent spot on.

“So when he comes back in May or June or whenever that’s going to be, you have to be physically mentally 100 per cent ready.

“He wants to rematch Daniel so bad.”

Meanwhile, Hearn added that Joshua didn’t suffer a major injury.

“There’s no major injury,” he added.

“Every fighter has niggles in camp, especially when you’re a heavyweight who trains every day and spars really hard.

“There’s nothing that’s going to be a long-term problem.

“For a turnaround after a five- or six-week break after a defeat like that, it’s just not possible to be a hundred per cent.

“There’s no tear in the bicep, just wear-and-tear that means he cannot go into a training camp with the same intensity that he would want to.”

Meanwhile, a fight between Joshua and Tyson Fury, who has long been linked with a super fight with the Watford-born boxer, is being considered.

First, Fury will face unified champion Oleksandr Usyk on December 21 after losing to the Ukrainian in May.