A summer return is now the target for Anthony Joshua, with Eddie Hearn identifying Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois as the two most realistic opponents for the former unified heavyweight champion. Hearn also made clear that a long-discussed showdown with Tyson Fury still carries the biggest commercial and sporting weight in boxing, even if it remains dependent on Fury taking care of his own business first.
According to Hearn, Joshua could pursue a fight with Wardley for a version of the heavyweight world title or run back a bout with Dubois. That gives Joshua two very different pathways: one against a rising British heavyweight looking for a breakout moment, and another against an established danger who would bring instant stakes and familiarity. For the division, the choice matters. A win over Wardley could position Joshua to reclaim a belt and reestablish himself in the title picture, while a Dubois rematch would be sold as a high-risk move against one of the division’s biggest punchers.
From an American boxing perspective, the Fury fight still hangs over everything. Even with the heavyweight scene crowded by title claims, mandatory obligations and crossover chatter, Joshua-Fury remains the matchup U.S. fans would immediately recognize as the biggest event the division can still deliver. That is why Hearn continues to frame it as the sport’s most important fight.
Joshua also has something to prove in this next outing beyond simply winning. At 35, he is no longer fighting only to stay active; he is fighting to show he remains a legitimate elite heavyweight with one more true championship run left in him. The urgency is real, because every appearance now shapes whether he is viewed as a revived contender or a star living off past accomplishments.
Joshua last fought in December, when he knocked out Jake Paul. What comes next will say far more about where he stands — and whether the road finally leads to Fury.