Anthony Joshua plans to step back into the ring this summer. The former heavyweight champion wants to fight the winner of the Dubois-Parker bout, aiming for another shot at the world title.
Joshua's last fight didn't go as planned. In September, Daniel Dubois stopped him in five rounds at Wembley Stadium. This setback came after talks of an all-British showdown with Tyson Fury fell through when Fury announced his retirement in January.
Eddie Hearn, Joshua's promoter, shared the fighter's current goals in a recent interview. Hearn stated:
"The plan and the goal for Anthony Joshua, always from now until he retires is to try and win the world heavyweight champion."
Hearn added that Joshua is ready to face Dubois again if needed:
"He will step back in the ring with Dubois at any moment because he wants the gold."
While the Dubois-Parker winner is Joshua's preferred option, other potential opponents include Martin Bakole, Deontay Wilder, or the winner of the Kabayel vs Zhang fight.
Time seems to be a factor in Joshua's career plans. Hearn hinted at a limited timeline:
"We've probably only got another year left, two fights, three fights max."
The Dubois-Parker fight happens this weekend, and Joshua has already made his prediction for the winner. However, current champion Oleksandr Usyk also wants to fight the victor, which could complicate Joshua's plans.
Joshua's road back to the top won't be easy, but he's determined to become a three-time world heavyweight champion. His summer return will be a crucial step in that journey.
