Eddie Hearn reveals new timeline for Anthony Joshua's retirement as ‘curveball' talks change plans for next fight
AJ is recovering from elbow surgery in May and preparing to enter training camp for his first fight since losing to Daniel Dubois in September.
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Promoter Eddie Hearn revealed a comeback bout is targeted between October-December and Dillian Whyte, 37, was their frontrunner opponent.
But now Whyte is closing in on a deal to instead face 20-year-old British sensation Moses Itauma on August 16 in Saudi Arabia.
It leaves the returning Deontay Wilder as another option for Joshua - who could be approaching his final year in the sport.
Hearn told DAZN: "Dillian Whyte was probably the frontrunner, to be honest with you. Now it looks like he's going to fight Moses - so that was a curveball.
"Jared Anderson's been mentioned, obviously Deontay Wilder's back soon.
"I think AJ would have been out the ring just over a year by the time he steps back into the ring.
"He will be coming off surgery, I don't think (Tyson) Fury's going to be ready to fight around that time anyway.
"But I expect it to be someone to gear him up for a really big fight in 2026. And probably, 2026 will be his last year in the sport."
Wilder is coming off a KO loss to Zhilei Zhang, 42, last summer having been stunned on points by Joseph Parker, 33, in December 2023.
And the 39-year-old now returns on June 27 in Kansas against little-known 24-5 Tyrrell Herndon - where he can look to revive the AJ fight once more.
'We never know' - Tyson Fury refuses to rule out comeback as Anthony Joshua nears new 'amazing' fight deal
Hearn added: "AJ-Wilder's a massive fight as well and I think because of the loss to Dubois, it makes the fight more palatable.
"Especially if Wilder can come back with a good win."
Fury, 36, was twice beaten by Oleksandr Usyk, 38, last year and announced his retirement in January a month after losing the rematch.
But Hearn still holds out hope the unpredictable Gypsy King will return to fight Joshua - setting up a swan song double header.
He said: "It's probably three fights away. For me, if I'm advising AJ, we're back this year, we have two Tyson Fury fights, what else is there to do?
"Maybe fight a Daniel Dubois, but for me once AJ fights Tyson Fury, he's kind of done it all.
"I'd love him to have another crack at Daniel Dubois and I'd love him to have another crack at Usyk but you just keep going on and on and on.
"Now, if we get to next year and he's still firing on all cylinders then 2026 won't be his last year.
"But for me, something feels right about coming back this year, beating Tyson Fury twice and then sailing off into the sunset."
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