Anthony Joshua hints next fight could take place this summer despite announcing December return

Anthony Joshua has backtracked on his claim that he won’t fight again until December and instead hinted at a possible return to the ring this summer.

Joshua started winning again at the beginning of the month by dominating Jermaine Franklin in a shutout points win at the O2 Arena.

While the performance was by no means vintage and even drew criticism from the likes of Carl Froch, the two-time heavyweight champion successfully recovered from back-to-back defeats at the hands of Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk, leaving the door open for potential mega fights with Deontay Wilder, Tyson Fury or Joe Joyce.

But a week after he passed Franklin, fans were left stunned when AJ revealed on social media that his next appearance wouldn’t be for another eight months.

“Not ideal, but everything is part of a bigger picture,” he wrote on Instagram.

The Brit stunned fans by announcing his next fight would take place in December, eight months after his recent victory over Jermaine Franklin (left)

Reports surfaced that talks were underway for a December fight with Deontay Wilder (pictured)

Joshua vs Wilder could be staged on the same card as a potential uncontested showdown between Tyson Fury (left) and Oleksandr Usyk (right)

That announcement was soon followed by stunning reports claiming that Saudi Arabian officials are now plotting a historic boxing night in which Joshua vs Wilder and Fury vs Usyk would take place on the same card at the end of the year, with the winners of each fight. to then lock the horns in 2024.

However, Joshua has now suggested he could return in ‘July or August’ if both he and new coach Derrick James feel it is the right move.

“Because I may have changed three coaches in three years, I thought it would be good to develop and work under the guidance of my new coach. I want to,” he shared Sky Sports.

“But the only way we can test everything he teaches me is to fight.

“So instead of putting pressure on myself, and I don’t want to lie to the fans at the time, I’m fighting this date when there are still talks, I just wanted to draw a line in the sand and say I’m not fighting until this date.

“If I, my coach, decide to change my mind… then I feel I can change my mind, right? So I can fight in July or August if I want, but right now it’s off the table, but we’re subject to chance, provided my coach is happy with what he sees.’

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn recently admitted that his man hadn’t decided whether to do another tune-up this summer before entering the ring with one of his biggest heavyweight rivals in December.

The 33-year-old only boxed under James’ tutelage against Franklin for the first time after parting ways with former trainer Robert Garcia after their only outing together against Usyk last August.

Joshua has suggested he could do a tune-up in ‘July or August’ to move forward with new coach Derrick James (right)

The pair first teamed up in AJ’s victory over Franklin at the O2 Arena

Continuing with the American in another tune-up fight would increase his chances of toppling Wilder in a potential showdown at the end of the year, which would pose a serious threat given the former WBC champion’s famed punching power.

Joshua further suggested that he will outsmart Wilder in 12 rounds when they meet as scheduled in December, outlining his desire to work more efficiently and become known as a “boxing fighter.”

“I’m quite tall, I have a long range, but I’m not going to be a powerhouse,” he said.

“I’ve always tried to develop my boxing IQ, but during 12 rounds there are times when you have to fight and I want to be a boxing fighter.”