Anthony Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has indicated that 2026 is likely to mark the end of the British-Nigerian boxer’s professional career. Currently recovering from elbow surgery, Joshua is expected to return to the ring in September 2025 for a single fight, with the possibility of only three fights remaining before retirement.
Hearn outlined that Joshua’s final run could include two high-profile bouts against Tyson Fury, a fight long anticipated but uncertain for 2025 due to Fury’s current hiatus. “Probably 2026 will be his last year in the sport,” Hearn said, adding that after a couple of fights with Fury, Joshua would have essentially “done it all.” Other potential opponents mentioned include Daniel Dubois and Oleksandr Usyk, with Hearn expressing interest in Joshua having rematches with both.
The promoter emphasized that if Joshua is still performing at his peak by 2026, retirement might be delayed, but the prevailing sentiment is that a fitting conclusion would be to defeat Fury twice and then “sail off into the sunset.” Joshua, a two-time unified world heavyweight champion, has faced recent setbacks, including a knockout loss to Dubois in 2024, and has not fought since.
Hearn confirmed Joshua will only fight once in 2025, likely in September, with the choice of opponent depending on outcomes in other key heavyweight matches, such as Dubois versus Usyk. Despite the challenges, Joshua remains a major figure in boxing, with a career spanning Olympic gold in 2012 to multiple world titles.
The prospect of Joshua’s retirement in 2026 marks the closing chapter for one of boxing’s most prominent heavyweights, with fans eagerly awaiting his comeback and potential final fights on the sport’s biggest stages.
