2026-01-15 11:36:17
Eddie Hearn thinks Anthony Joshua will return to boxing “when the time is right”.
The former heavyweight world champion was involved in a car crash in Nigeria last month that killed his team members and close friends Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele and his promoter says he will need time and space to grieve the loss of pals.
Hearn told Sky Sports: “I think AJ, as we have seen in the past on boxing-related stuff, is always a brave-face guy, a very positive guy. This is very different to that and I know he will take his time.
“He will need his time physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually before he makes a decision on his future. I do think he will want to return to boxing, but that will be his decision when the time is right.
“It is certainly not a conversation I’ll be having with him any time soon. The only conversation is ‘Are you OK?’ and sometimes we find people will give that facade of being OK, but what happened to him is not normal and heartbreaking for all involved.”
There had been talk that Joshua could take on Tyson Fury in 2026 after his victory against YouTuber Jake Paul last month but Hearn now expects the fighter – who was injured in the crash – to spend a “considerable amount of time” away from the ring.
The Matchroom boss said: “Yeah I do and again that is not a conversation that anyone is comfortable having in terms of asking what could be next or what he is thinking.
“When the time is right, I believe he will make his decision and you will hear it from him. That is the only voice you should listen to in that respect and we’ll give him his time to make that decision and heal.”
Visit Bang Premier (main website)
