Anthony Joshua plans to return in July but won’t face Tyson Fury next after a fatal car accident, according to the promoter

Anthony Joshua is looking to make a comeback in July following a tragic car accident, but Tyson Fury will not be his next challenger.

Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is targeting a return to the ring in July after recovering from a serious car crash in December. However, promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed that a long-awaited matchup with Tyson Fury will not be his next fight.

Joshua was on a high after achieving a sixth-round knockout victory against Jake Paul in Miami when tragedy hit. During a visit to family in Nigeria over the Christmas season, he was involved in a road traffic accident that resulted in the tragic loss of two close associates and members of his training team, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele. Joshua was admitted to the hospital after the crash.

In an interview with The Sportsman, Hearn disclosed that previous plans for Joshua to compete in March, which could have paved the way for a major showdown with Fury, have now been put on hold.

“He was scheduled to fight in March, followed by a match against Tyson Fury.” That will no longer occur. “He won’t be fighting Tyson Fury next,” Hearn stated, noting that no concrete plans have been established for the former champion’s return.

Hearn emphasized that the top priority is for Joshua to achieve complete physical recovery and to gradually resume training camp activities. “Anthony Joshua’s priority is to return to training camp.” “He’s not quite prepared to return to training camp physically, but it’s approaching,” he stated. “I believe there’s nothing he desires more right now than to go back to training camp, as it’s where he truly enjoys being.”

Hearn suggested that Joshua’s return is likely to happen in July, and they are currently evaluating various potential locations globally. We anticipate additional conversations regarding opponents and logistics as Joshua resumes full training in the upcoming weeks.

In the meantime, Fury is getting ready for his comeback to the ring. The ex-world champion is scheduled to confront Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 11. The upcoming match will be Fury’s first since his rematch loss to Oleksandr Usyk in December 2024.

Although fans might need to be patient for a possible Joshua-Fury clash, Hearn’s remarks indicate that Joshua’s comeback to competition — and to peak fitness — is definitely on the way.