Eddie Hearn names Anthony Joshua’s next opponent

Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed a five-man shortlist for Anthony Joshua’s next opponents, with a rematch against Daniel Dubois as the top preference following Tyson Fury’s retirement.

Anthony Joshua’s Next Move After Dubois Knockout

Joshua has not fought since his brutal knockout loss to Dubois in September 2024. Initially, he was in talks for a highly anticipated showdown with Tyson Fury in 2025. However, after suffering back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, Fury announced his retirement, leaving Joshua at a crossroads.

Read Also: Hearn plots fresh Anthony Joshua vs Dubois rematch

Hearn’s Shortlist of Potential Opponents

Speaking to talkSPORT, Hearn outlined the potential matchups for Anthony Joshua: “Daniel Dubois still [is the frontrunner]. In an ideal world, he will fight Fury, if not Dubois. There is also Joseph Parker, who I think would be a great fight; there is Agit Kabayel and Deontay Wilder. His Excellency (Alalshikh) has stated he would love to see that fight.”

Hearn also acknowledged Martin Bakole as a potential contender but expressed concerns about potential criticism should Joshua choose to fight him. “I guess the Bakole fight is still there, but he would probably get criticised if he fought Bakole, so less likely,” he stated.

Who Will AJ Fight Next?

With Fury retired and Wilder inactive, Parker emerges as a high-profile option, while Kabayel’s unbeaten streak makes him a risky but intriguing choice. Hearn added: “The talks are imminent with AJ now to lock in that opponent for the summer.”