Sports

Joshua not ready for return – Chisora

Former heavyweight contender Derek Chisora believes Anthony Joshua is not ready to return to action following his knockout loss to IBF champion Daniel Dubois last September, NewsNGR Sports Extra reports.

Speaking after his victory over Otto Wallin on Saturday, Chisora, who shares management with Joshua through 258 MGT, suggested the British-Nigerian needs more time to recover.

“Who knows? Right now AJ is healing himself after the defeat from Daniel Dubois. He’s not ready yet. When he’s ready he’ll come back and I think he’ll come back – not to fight me but to fight the ‘Gypsy King’,” Chisora said post-fight.

However, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has contradicted these claims, insisting the former two-time heavyweight champion is prepared to begin training camp with six potential opponents in consideration.

“I spoke to AJ yesterday, for the first time in, I dunno a couple of weeks. And he’s ready to start camp, pretty much. We’re going to chat, probably next week, particularly after February 22 and we’re going to choose the next opponent,” Hearn told iFL TV.

The promoter also dismissed reports that Joshua had already signed to face either Martin Bakole or Deontay Wilder in his comeback fight.

“Loads of people were sending it to me, including the media saying, ‘is Bakole-AJ signed?’ And I’m like, ‘Signed? We haven’t even had one conversation about it.’ Then I saw Wilder against AJ was signed for June 7. Not even had one conversation about it.”

Joshua, who has earned over $200m in his career, including $75m from fights in 2024 alone, still has one fight remaining on his lucrative Riyadh Season contract.

Among the potential opponents for his return is the winner of the IBF title fight between champion Dubois and Joseph Parker, scheduled for February 22 in Saudi Arabia, as well as the victor of the WBC interim title clash between Zhilei Zhang and Agit Kabayel on the same night.

“Parker-Dubois winner, Zhang-Kabayel winner, I think could be an option,” Hearn added. “Fury and Dubois are still obviously the two AJ most wants to fight. But he doesn’t have a problem fighting any of them. Honestly, he couldn’t care less. He’ll fight anyone. He’s always been that way.”

Boxing journalist Gareth A Davis recently revealed that Joshua’s team had not engaged in any conversations regarding a potential bout with Bakole, despite claims from the Congolese boxer’s promoter, Ben-Shalom, that the deal was “done” for a fight in Congo.

“I’m hearing from Anthony Joshua’s side there hasn’t even been a conversation. Maybe this is Bakole and his team trying to speak the fight into reality,” Davis told BoxNation.

Matchroom CEO Frank Smith recently told BetFred that Joshua is expected to return to the ring in the summer, while his team continues to explore various options for his comeback fight.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button