Anthony Joshua is scheduled for elbow surgery this week. This news comes as discussions for a potential fight against “big tease” Tyson Fury reportedly move a step closer.
The 35-year-old Joshua has not fought since his knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois, 27, in September. His return was delayed by an undisclosed injury.
Joshua has since revealed the issue was with his elbow. His promoter, Eddie Hearn, confirmed the surgery is planned for this week.
Speaking to SunSport, Hearn explained: “He just goes back into camp and just can`t fire on all cylinders consistently. So he can go back, have a couple of sessions, bit of soreness in the elbow. They tried to let it rest and recover and they`ve told him that I think it`s this week, he has a small keyhole surgery in the arm.”
Hearn added that the recovery is expected to take four to six weeks, after which Joshua should be ready to return, suggesting a potential fight date sometime after September.
Following Joshua`s loss and Tyson Fury`s subsequent defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, the stage seemed set for the two British heavyweights to finally face each other. However, Fury announced a surprising retirement – the fourth of his career – in January, just a month after his second loss to Usyk.
The unpredictable “Gypsy King” has recently broken his social media silence, posting hints about a potential comeback, which has renewed Hearn`s hope for the long-awaited matchup.
Hearn commented: “Tyson Fury is a big tease, everyday I open up Instagram like today and he`s got his wraps on saying he`s done 12 rounds. He looks super fit, Tyson Fury, he looks like he`s ready to go now! Which is encouraging, but obviously probably the delay that AJ`s got is a blessing, to be honest with you.”
“One, you`ve got Usyk against Dubois coming up so that gives you a little bit of time. And number two, you`ve got Tyson Fury who could potentially come back to the ring so it`s gonna be interesting to see what plays out,” Hearn noted, seeing potential upside in Joshua`s recovery period.
The involvement of Turki Alalshikh and significant Saudi investment in boxing has helped bridge the divide between promoters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren, who were long-time rivals. Their shared presence on the DAZN streaming platform also facilitates potential discussions for an AJ vs Fury fight.
Hearn admitted that informal discussions about the potential mega-fight have occurred because “everyone`s desperate to make it happen.”
He added: “But, no one said, `Oh, I think it`s coming, I think he`s coming back.` But at the same time, he`s training. And I feel like with Tyson Fury over the years, you`ve seen him not training and balloon out of shape and then it takes him a long time to come back. Now it looks like he`s either ready to fight or he`s ready to begin camp, which is hugely encouraging.”
Hearn believes Fury`s nature as a competitor makes a return likely: “I just don`t think he`ll be able to leave it alone, if I`m honest with you. Because, the money`s one thing, but just the occasion and the challenge, and he`s a competitor, he`s a winner. And I just can`t believe he`s gonna let it slide.”
While Fury is the main target, Hearn stated they would await the outcome of the Usyk vs Dubois rematch on July 19th. However, Hearn is confident that Anthony Joshua will fight before the end of the year, regardless of whether Fury returns.
He cautioned: “Next couple of months, if there`s no movement, we fight. I mean there`s no way AJ`s not fighting this year. So who that will be? I can`t tell you. I mean, that`s the million dollar question at all times, but I think more importantly is, do we get any news from Fury in the next four, six, eight weeks?”
“If we do, we`ll fight him this year. If not, we`ll fight and then maybe he comes back next year, who knows? But I`d be lying if I said we weren`t desperate to see him return. But, at the same time we can`t just wait around and see what happens.”
