Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has lifted the lid on what could possibly be an enormous 12 months forward for Anthony Joshua, revealing that talks are underway for main fights and new partnerships following a high-level assembly in Saudi Arabia.
Hearn disclosed that he not too long ago met with Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh in Riyadh, the place discussions centred on increasing Matchroom Boxing’s collaboration and mapping out Anthony Joshua’s subsequent profession strikes.
Talking on The Stomping Floor, the Matchroom boss mentioned, “A partnership with Matchroom that might be prolonged, but in addition simply clearly talks of varied completely different fights. You understand, numerous talks round AJ, in fact.”
Hearn hinted that the assembly left him enthusiastic about what’s to return, however he remained cautious about revealing an excessive amount of. “I’m not going to enter it too deep as a result of I don’t need to jinx it, however massive plans for Anthony Joshua. We’re prepared, you understand,” he mentioned.
The promoter defined that the journey to Riyadh got here after a productive sit-down with Joshua in Dubai. “It was a very good assembly with AJ in Dubai, and if you sit down with His Excellency, it’s like, I had a flight again, I needed to cancel the flight as a result of he simply goes in that mode, and it’s very tough to elucidate, and he simply needs to do enterprise. And he needs to get issues executed ASAP,” Hearn mentioned.
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Joshua, who misplaced to Daniel Dubois in a world heavyweight title struggle at Wembley Stadium in September final 12 months, is predicted to return to the ring early subsequent 12 months.
Talks are reportedly ongoing for a possible comeback bout in Nigeria, a transfer that will mark his first skilled struggle on African soil.
Amongst these wanting to problem him is Congolese heavyweight Martin Bakole, who has publicly thrown his hat within the ring. Bakole has proposed the struggle be billed as “The Rumble within the Jungle II,” a nod to the historic 1974 conflict between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Kinshasa.
If the Nigeria struggle materialises, it will not solely reignite Joshua’s international profile but in addition sign a brand new period for African boxing, with the game’s highlight returning to the continent over 50 years after Ali’s iconic triumph.
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