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'Just wear-and-tear!' – Eddie Hearn explains Anthony Joshua status with 2025 plans in flux

'Just wear-and-tear!' – Eddie Hearn explains Anthony Joshua status with 2025 plans in flux

Promoter says heavyweight star will fight three times in 2023

Eddie Hearn has explained that Anthony Joshua's postponed 2023 plans are due to “wear and tear” rather than a major injury concern.

Joshua was originally set to fight Tyson Fury in an undisputed heavyweight title clash in Saudi Arabia on August 14, but the bout was shelved after Fury was ordered to face mandatory challenger Dillian Whyte by the WBC.

AJ was then linked with a July 23 fight against Oleksandr Usyk, who dethroned him of his WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO titles last September. However, Usyk ruled himself out of a summer return as he continues to recover from an injury.

Joshua's 2023 plans now in flux

As a result, Joshua's 2023 plans are now in flux, with a return likely not until the autumn.

“AJ's fine. He's just had a long year. He had two massive fights with Usyk, he's been in camp for a long time,” Hearn told iFL TV. “The most important thing is he has a rest now and comes back in the summer and has a couple of fights to get him back into the mix for the world title.

“I don't think it's a major injury concern or anything like that. I just think it's wear and tear. He's had a tough camp and sometimes you just need a rest.”

Hearn: Joshua will fight three times in 2023

Hearn says he expects Joshua to fight three times in 2023, with potential opponents including Whyte, Joe Joyce and Deontay Wilder.

“He'll fight three times this year, no problem,” Hearn said. “He's going to have a nice rest now, come back in the summer, have a couple of fights, and then we'll see where we are at the end of the year.”