The 17-month absence of Anthony Joshua and the search for a Top-15 rival in early 2026

Promoter Eddie Hearn says that Anthony Joshua will fight in “early 2026” against a heavy weight in the “first world ranking” for his tune. Hearn claims that he is not interested in a Jake Paul struggle after he chose to face Gervonta Davis Light in an exhibition match on November 14, 2025.

Joshua (28-4, 25 kos) turns 36 on October 15, and will have been outside the ring for 16 to 17 months when fighting in January or February 2026. AJ leaves elbow surgery. The tune struggle that could have happened this year against Paul was undone when the popular youtuber boxer chose to fight Davis.

The new joshua path

“We are not interested in Jake Paul’s struggle after that,” said Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn in Boxing news When asked about Anthony Joshua’s plans for his next fight.

Hearn’s comment on him is no longer interested in a Joshua and Paul struggle reflects ex -Ex -World Campión withdrawn Carl Froch on his YouTube channel Jake that Aj and Eddie had been “affected”.

What Froch said is that he believes that Paul had “played blinder” when he was in conversations with Hearn for a Joshua struggle, but then signing -to fight against Gervonta Davis in a confrontation of the exhibition on November 14, 2025. That is, Froch believes that Jake had used interest in a possible fight with Joshua as he negotiated the game Davis.

Navigate the rankings

“For us, the plan was always to have a comeback warming struggle, and this is still the plan. It will be Someone of the first 15 world rankings ”, Hearn said about Aj’s next confrontation. “He is forming (Joshua) and will be ready to go, probably now by the beginning of 2026. We have not yet discussed any opponent, but we definitely want the comeback struggle before next summer. We hope to be against Tyson Fury, but we will have to see.”

There are not many safe options among the first 15 places for Joshua to fight in a adjustment. Many of them are powerful, hungry and would be a threat to Joshua.

The danger of top 15

Danger of lower rank fighters than the upper layer:

• Bakhodir Yalolov
• Richard Torrez Jr.
• Philip Hrgovic
• Deontay Wilder
• Steering wheel
• Murat Gassiev

“Strong rumors are emerging from northern London, which Joshua, the world unified world -wide champion, will face Tony Yoka, and not Paul or Fury, below … This struggle will be the tune it needs?” The writer Nick Parkinson said in Espn about a potential opposition to Joshua in early 2026.