Eddie Hearn feels Anthony Joshua will likely retire from boxing next year.
Hearn has promoted Joshua for his entire 32-fight professional career, since the Watford man turned over after winning gold at the 2012 Olympics.
The 35-year-old has been out of the ring since last September, when Daniel Dubois dashed his dream to become a three-time heavyweight world champion with a devastating fifth round knockout win at Wembley Stadium.
‘AJ’ is set to make his return later this year following successful elbow surgery and Hearn believes his charge could call time on his career in 2026, providing he secures two bouts with long-time rival Tyson Fury, who retired in January after back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk.
“AJ would have been out of the ring just over a year by the time he steps back into the ring,” the 46-year-old said on The Ariel Helwani Show.
“He will be coming off surgery. I don’t think Fury will be ready to fight around that time anyway.
“But I expect it to be someone that will gear him up for a really big fight in 2026 and probably 2026 will be his last year in the sport.
“It’s probably three fights away.
“If I’m advising AJ, we’re back this year, we have two Tyson Fury fights, what else is there to do?
“Maybe fight a Daniel Dubois, but I think that for me, once AJ fights Tyson Fury, he’s kind of done it all.
“I’d love him to have another crack at Dubois and I’d love him to have another crack at Usyk, but you just go on an on.
“Now if we get to next year and he’s still firing on all cylinders then 2026 won’t be his last year.
“But for me, something feels right about coming back this year, beating Tyson Fury twice and sailing off into the sunset.”
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Joshua has been linked to a blockbuster showdown with Fury for a decade, however a long-awaited meeting between the pair is still yet to materialise.
Hearn admits Dillian Whyte was the frontrunner to face ‘AJ’ in his return bout, but the Brixton man is set to face rising heavyweight prospect, Moses Itauma on August 16 in Riyadh.
Former WBC heavyweight world champion, Deontay Wilder is an option for Joshua according to the Matchroom boss, providing the Alabama man wins in good fashion when he returns on June 27 against Tyrrell Herndon.
A Wilder-Joshua bout was once one of the most glamorous clashes in the division, particularly when both men were world champions.
However, the prospect of the pair meeting has lost much of its lustre, especially with Wilder having won just one of his last five fights.
