No ‘guarantees’ Anthony Joshua will fight again — Hearn

Matchroom promoter, Eddie Hearn, says he “expects” Anthony Joshua to fight again following a road traffic accident that claimed the lives of two of the boxer’s close friends, but admitted there are no guarantees about a return to the ring.

Joshua sustained minor injuries in the accident in Nigeria on December 29, which led to the deaths of Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele.

The former two-time world heavyweight champion returned to light training in January and shared a video on social media showing him working out, accompanied by the message “mental strength therapy”.

Hearn, who has promoted Joshua since his professional debut after winning gold at the 2012 Olympics, said the boxer could still compete again this year.

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“I don’t think there are any guarantees he fights again, but at the same time I expect him to, because it is something that he loves,” Hearn said in an interview with First Round TV.

“And it is something he can carry those guys with him through as well, and it is something he wants to do.

“From a boxing sense, physically, it wasn’t easy what he went through either. People probably don’t realise the extent of that.

“He has been training, but he is not ready yet and won’t be for a while to return to boxing training.”

Joshua has stayed largely away from public view since the incident, but appeared cage-side at a Professional Fighters League event in Dubai last weekend.

His last fight was on December 19, when he stopped Jake Paul in the sixth round to move his record to 29 wins and four defeats. After the bout, Joshua said he was ready to face Tyson Fury.

Fury, however, announced his return from retirement in January and is scheduled to fight Arslanbek Makhmudov in the UK on April 11.

“Before this terrible incident, we were geared up to fight in March and then fight Tyson Fury,” Hearn said.

“Obviously, that is not happening now, and I don’t know if it will ever happen right now.

“But I think in the next few weeks and months, he may start to return and just turn the dial up a little bit more on training and see where he is at.”

(BBC)