Anthony Joshua could potentially face Joseph Parker again when he returns to the ring this summer, according to his promoter Eddie Hearn. However, Tyson Fury has not entered into any new discussions regarding a fight with Joshua, as confirmed by promoter Frank Warren. Joshua previously unified the IBF and WBO titles with a points victory over Parker in 2018.
The British heavyweight has been sidelined due to a minor injury, extending his break since suffering a fifth-round knockout loss to Daniel Dubois at Wembley in September.
Hearn reiterated that Joshua remains eager for a rematch with Dubois or a major showdown with Fury, who is currently retired. However, the two-time world champion could also be open to facing the in-form Parker once again.
“Yeah, Joshua had a minor injury after the Dubois fight. He went back into training, but he’s not yet ready to throw punches with the intensity he needs,” Hearn said.
He continued, “So right now, there are two main fights that really get AJ fired up: one is the rematch with Daniel Dubois, and the other is Tyson Fury. But that’s out of our control at the moment. We’re hoping something can get that fight going, but it’s all up to Tyson.”
“If he doesn’t fight either of those two, he will need to fight someone, and it will have to be someone in the top 10.”
“Joseph Parker is currently on an excellent run. If Dubois doesn’t get a shot at Usyk, I’d like to see him face Parker too, because Joe deserves a world heavyweight title shot. But if there’s a major unification fight for the undisputed title, Joe will need a new opponent, and perhaps that will be a rematch with Joshua.”
Parker, the WBO’s mandatory challenger for Oleksandr Usyk’s title, has impressed with victories over Martin Bakole, Zhilei Zhang, and Deontay Wilder. His promoter, David Higgins, confirmed that Parker could be in line for a rematch with Joshua.
“I think the entire world would love to see Parker rematch AJ,” Higgins said. “Given his current form, I believe Joseph Parker could knock AJ out.”
“Our promotional partner right now is Queensberry, so Frank Warren and the Queensberry team will have significant input. But I don’t think anyone would deny that if Parker doesn’t get the Usyk or Dubois fight, AJ-Parker would be a huge event, and the whole world would tune in.”
Joshua defeated Parker by unanimous decision in 2018 to unify the IBF and WBO belts in Cardiff.
Hearn confirmed that Joshua plans to return to action by the end of summer as they map out the final phase of his career.
“This is the final year, no beating around the bush,” Hearn said. “He’ll have somewhere between one and three fights left, that’s the reality.”
Could Fury vs Joshua Still Happen?
Meanwhile, Frank Warren told Sky Sports that no fresh discussions have been held regarding Fury’s return to the ring.
“If he wants to come back, that’s entirely his choice,” Warren said. “As for me, I haven’t even discussed it with him. It’s his decision. In the meantime, I just want him to enjoy his life and family because that’s what he loves.”
When asked about Joshua’s future goals, Hearn added, “I just want to see him happy. I think he’s already achieved an incredible legacy. Not only has he been a two-time world heavyweight champion, but he’s helped transform the sport here in the UK.”
“He’s set the stage for these stadium fights to be normal, and he’s inspired a new generation of young boxers to walk into amateur gyms.”
“He still loves the sport, and he believes he has a lot left physically. This is his final chance, and we need to get it right. It’s going to be an exciting time.”
