Renowned promoter Eddie Hearn has named the five potential contenders poised to face former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in his anticipated return to the ring. Following his unexpected defeat to Daniel Dubois in September, where he was knocked out in just five rounds, Joshua remains confident in his ability to challenge and defeat top-tier opponents.
In a recent conversation with Talk Sport, Hearn shared the lineup of fighters currently being considered for Joshua’s comeback:
“Daniel Dubois is still leading the pack. Ideally, if not Dubois, it would be incredible to see Joshua go up against [Tyson] Fury,” Hearn mentioned. “We’ve also got Joseph Parker on the list, which I think could be an exhilarating matchup. Then there’s Agit Kabayel and Deontay Wilder; Turki Alalshikh has shown great interest in seeing that clash. We’ll have to weigh our options. The [Martin] Bakole fight is still a possibility, but it might attract criticism if that’s the route we take, so it’s less likely.”
Each of the fights Hearn proposed presents an intriguing matchup. Bakole, however, doesn’t seem as appealing, particularly after his last-minute substitution against Parker didn’t go as planned. Despite Fury’s retirement claims, Hearn remains hopeful for a return. Personally, seeing Joshua take on Kabayel would be exciting, especially with the substantial payday it would involve. Joshua maintains his star power, making any fight with him lucrative for his opponents.
Yet, there’s a significant chance that all five of these contenders could topple Joshua. It begs the question of how much AJ really has left to offer at this point in his career.
Could Joshua overcome the likes of Parker, Kabayel, Dubois, Wilder, or Bakole in 2025? Many in the boxing community believe that Joshua might be past his prime, and the risk of another defeat looms large if he steps into the ring with another elite fighter.
