Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed details about the future of former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.
After a tragic car accident in Nigeria in late 2025 that claimed the lives of two of his closest friends, Hearn has admitted that Joshua may never return to boxing if his heart and mind are no longer in the sport.
While Joshua has been seen back in the gym, Hearn said that this is part of a personal healing journey rather than a formal training camp.
Speaking to the press, Hearn made it clear that the focus has shifted entirely away from championship belts and pay-per-view dates.
Hearn noted that the emotional toll of such a loss is unprecedented for the fighter, suggesting that Joshua may never return to boxing if he cannot find the “spiritual and emotional” strength to compete at the highest level again.
Hearn, who has promoted Anthony Joshua since he turned professional in 2013, said the emotional and physical impact of the crash means there is no clarity over when or if Joshua will resume his boxing career.
“I have not had the opportunity to see him since the terrible crash,” Hearn stated.
“It’s not easy. He is keeping himself busy. Physically, he is getting himself over the injuries that he suffered. They are not injuries that will affect him long-term moving forward, but they are injuries that will take time.
“Boxing is a tough and rough sport. You can’t just go back into camp with injuries like that, and I do not know when, or even if, he will go back into camp.
“At the moment, there is no conversation, or no need to have a conversation, about that.”
Joshua had been linked with a long-anticipated bout against Tyson Fury earlier in 2026, but any potential negotiations are now believed to be on hold.
Hearn also downplayed suggestions that Joshua’s presence in the gym signals an imminent return to competitive boxing.
“AJ will always train,” he added. “Do not forget that boxing changed his life forever, and he will never leave the gym.y
“What you are seeing at the moment is not him training for his return. He is training for his own mind. He is training himself to recover and repair. I just cannot believe his strength and resilience.”
