Eddie Hearn reveals two surprising opponents for Anthony Joshua comeback and neither is Tyson Fury

Anthony Joshua is expected to return to the ring by the end of the year, but the man in the opposite corner is still undecided. 

Eddie Hearn, Joshua's promoter, has spoken about what could come next for his heavyweight star after he suffered a shocking loss to Daniel Dubois last September. 

Joshua was trying to become heavyweight champion for a third time, but his hopes and dreams were shattered by Dubois who produced a stunning performance to win in five rounds. 

Since that setback, Joshua has repeatedly been linked to a showdown with longtime rival, Tyson Fury, but those plans seem to be up in the air following Fury’s retirement earlier this year after he had been beaten twice by Oleksandr Usyk in 2024. 

Despite his number one target seemingly unavailable, Joshua is pushing on with his career, and Hearn has provided the latest on the 2012 Olympic champion. 

“We are actually discussing a two-fight deal with Riyadh Season,” said Hearn when speaking to BoxingScene. 

“We've been doing that, [Turki Alalshikh] said that on the night of Canelo, when we had our meeting, and that's the plan really. We want to box sometime this year, October, November, December.” 

“We'll see what happens with Dubois-Usyk, we'll see what happens with Fury, and if we don't fight those guys, we'll fight, and then maybe we'll follow one of those guys next year.” 

Hearn was also pressed on the subject of Joshua being linked to fights with Dillian Whyte and Jared Anderson. 

“Two guys that have been discussed, but nothing concrete.”