A tragic car crash has shaken the boxing world, taking the lives of two close friends of Anthony Joshua, a former heavyweight champion. In the aftermath, Joshua's return to the ring has been a topic of much speculation. But amidst the grief, a comeback story is unfolding.
Eddie Hearn, Joshua's promoter, has revealed that the boxer is aiming for a July comeback, a bold move after the devastating loss of his long-time strength coach, Sina Ghami, and personal trainer, Latif 'Latz' Ayodele, in a road accident near Lagos. The crash occurred just weeks after Joshua's knockout victory over Jake Paul in Miami.
Joshua's next fight was initially expected to be against the legendary Tyson Fury, but now, Fury is set to face Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in April. Hearn has confirmed that Joshua's return will not be against Fury, but rather, he's targeting a late summer comeback, with a potential July bout in the works.
"He's going to come back, I believe, in late summer," Hearn said. "But physically, he's not ready to return to training just yet. I'm exploring options to get him back in the ring in July, but we'll only know for sure once he's back in camp, which we hope will be soon."
While Joshua's comeback won't be against Fury, the door for a future fight between these British heavyweights remains open, according to Hearn. "Every fight is dangerous, especially after such a traumatic experience. We're open to the Fury fight, but it's more likely to happen towards the end of the year or even early 2027."
And here's where it gets controversial... Fury, who is preparing for his fifth comeback, has revealed that Joshua's tragedy was a turning point in his decision to return to boxing. "Life is short, precious, and fragile. Anything can happen at any moment, and you shouldn't put things off. That's why I'm back, for this big fight. There is no tomorrow to put it off to."
So, will we see Joshua and Fury face off in the ring? And what impact will these tragic events have on their performances? These questions remain, and the boxing world eagerly awaits the answers.
