Anthony Joshua’s ideal next opponent named: “We’ll KO him then fight Fury”

Anthony Joshua is getting ready to return to the ring and his 2026 fight plan is beginning to take shape.

Following a stoppage win over Jake Paul in December last year that, despite doing little for his standing in the heavyweight division, gained him significant interest in the US, Joshua was involved in a tragic car crash that claimed the lives of two close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele.

Though he escaped with minor injuries, it was unclear how the physical and mental toll would affect ‘AJ’s future inside the ropes. Now back in training with former rival Oleksandr Usyk, he has confirmed he will continue fighting. That means that talk of a fight against Tyson Fury – who returns this weekend in London – has resumed, but promoter Eddie Hearn recently confirmed to assorted media that his charge will not be going straight in with ‘The Gypsy King,’ instead targeting another long-awaited fight in the interim.

“This is what I want. We need a warm-up fight before we fight Tyson Fury, because AJ’s coming off an accident, he’s rehabilitating his body… We’ll take Deontay Wilder as that warm-up fight and then we’ll fight Tyson Fury in December.”

Joshua and Wilder were once in the position to fight for the undisputed title, but the fight failed to materialise on more than one occasion. With Wilder’s recent win over Derek Chisora, this may be the best chance to make it happen before a retirement ends the prospect for good.

Hearn praised the American’s performance against ‘Del Boy’, but has little doubt that it would not be up to par against Joshua.

“By the way, I respect Wilder and I think he looked much better [against Chisora] than he has done previously. But let me tell you – cause I was 6 feet away – Anthony Joshua will walk through Wilder within 3 rounds.”

The one obstacle that may stand in the way is a hand injury suffered by Wilder during those twelve rounds with Chisora. If he is fit by the end of the summer, this plan looks all the more likely.

Meanwhile, Fury must overcome Russia’s Arslanbek Makhmudov this weekend at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to keep hopes of the ‘AJ’ fight alive.