Anthony Joshua's boxing comeback has hit a snag. The former two-time world heavyweight champion revealed he needs elbow surgery, which will push back his return to the ring.
Joshua shared the news while attending the Canelo Alvarez vs. William Scull fight in Saudi Arabia. He told DAZN:
"When do you want me back people? I'm trying to get my body right. I've got to have surgery on my elbow. A small surgery sometime in May. That will see me out the gym for maybe 6-8 weeks. As soon as I'm healed I'll be back."
The surgery is set for May, with Joshua expected to need 6-8 weeks to recover. This means he likely won't return to the gym until July at the earliest. The delay could keep Joshua out of action for about a year since his last fight.
Joshua's last bout was in September when he faced Daniel Dubois for the IBF heavyweight championship. That fight ended with Joshua suffering a 5th round knockout defeat.
The British boxer had been eyeing a long-awaited showdown with Tyson Fury. Those plans fell through when Fury surprised everyone by retiring in January.
With this new setback, Joshua won't be stepping into the ring this summer. Boxing fans hoping to see him face off against long-term rival Deontay Wilder will have to wait a bit longer.
Joshua's focus now is on getting healthy and preparing for his eventual return. He'll use this time to get his body right before jumping back into the heavyweight mix.
