Boxing

Eddie Hearn Confirms Anthony Joshua Targeting July Comeback

Published

5 months ago

February 26, 2026

Prominent boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed that former heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua is focused on returning to full training, with a possible comeback pencilled in for around July.

Speaking on Joshua’s current situation, Hearn revealed that there are no immediate plans for a fight, stressing that the priority is getting the Nigerian-born British boxer back to peak physical condition before any bout discussions take place.

“AJ’s focus right now is getting back into training properly,” Hearn said. “He’s not ready to enter a full camp yet, and there’s no rush. The most important thing is that he feels right physically.”

Hearn dismissed speculation linking Joshua to an immediate showdown with long-time rival Tyson Fury, clarifying that such a fight is not on the table at this moment.

“Tyson Fury is not the next opponent. Nothing has been finalised. Until AJ is back in full training and feeling comfortable, it wouldn’t make sense to talk about names,” he explained.

According to Hearn, Joshua is most at ease when fully immersed in training, and that phase is expected to begin in the coming months.

“He’s happiest when he’s in the gym, working hard, improving himself. Once he’s back in that rhythm, then we’ll start looking at options around the world,” Hearn added.

The promoter noted that a tentative July timeline is realistic if everything progresses smoothly, but insisted that no pressure will be placed on the former champion.

“If July works, great. If it needs to be later, that’s fine too. We’re not forcing anything. This is about longevity and coming back the right way,” he said.

Joshua, a two-time heavyweight world champion, has remained one of boxing’s biggest global attractions despite recent setbacks. Hearn believes that with patience and proper preparation, the next chapter of Joshua’s career can still be a successful one.

“He’s still got so much to give to the sport. The key now is doing things properly and giving himself the best chance when he does return,” Hearn concluded

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The post Eddie Hearn Confirms Anthony Joshua Targeting July Comeback appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.

Boxing

Usman Learning from the Bottom Again, Seeks Redemption Against Du Plessis After 13-Month Layoff

Published

2 weeks ago

July 15, 2026

Logan Mclaughlin

Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman believes he is back in familiar territory as he prepares for a defining clash against ex-middleweight king Dricus du Plessis at UFC Fight Night in Oklahoma City this Saturday.

After spending more than a decade as one of the UFC’s most dominant champions, “The Nigerian Nightmare” now finds himself rebuilding his career from the ground up following a difficult spell that saw him lose his welterweight crown.

Rather than dwell on the setbacks, Usman has embraced the challenge of proving himself all over again.

Saturday’s showdown marks his first fight in 13 months and his first full-scale appearance as a middleweight.

Although he previously stepped in on short notice against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294, this will be his first full training camp competing permanently at 185 pounds.

The move presents a fresh opportunity for the 39-year-old, who impressed in his last outing by defeating Joaquin Buckley with a wrestling-heavy performance that reminded fans why he was once considered one of the UFC’s pound-for-pound best.

Standing across from him will be former middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis, who is equally eager to bounce back after suffering a crushing defeat to Khamzat Chimaev that ended his 11-fight winning streak and cost him the UFC middleweight title.

With current champion Sean Strickland yet to announce his next title defence, the stakes could hardly be higher.

Both men own victories over Strickland, making Saturday’s headline bout a potential title eliminator.

For Usman, the contest is about more than rankings. It is an opportunity to prove that his championship pedigree remains intact despite the long layoff and a change in weight class.

A convincing victory over the dangerous South African would immediately thrust the Nigerian back into the middleweight title conversation and complete another remarkable chapter in a career built on resilience and reinvention.

The UFC Fight Night main event takes place this weekend at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, with both former champions aiming to take a major step toward another world title shot.

The post Usman Learning from the Bottom Again, Seeks Redemption Against Du Plessis After 13-Month Layoff appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.

Boxing

Khelif’s first professional fight in Paris postponed due to injury

Published

3 weeks ago

July 9, 2026

Kenny Malone

Olympic champion Imane Khelif’s upcoming professional boxing fight in Paris originally scheduled for later this month has been postponed after the Algerian sustained an injury in training, tournament ‌organisers said on Monday.

Khelif was due to face German boxer Julia Ige on April 23 at Salle Wagram, but the fight will be rescheduled after a clinical examination found she was suffering from a painful syndrome in her left shoulder that ⁠causes functional limitation, the organisers said in a press release.

“Due to the intensity of the biomechanical stresses involved in high-level boxing, the medical team deemed the athlete’s condition temporarily incompatible with competition,” the statement said.

The event, which was also set to feature two bouts for World Boxing Association titles, has been postponed in its entirety.

“The health and physical well-being of our athletes remain our top priority,” the ‌promoter ⁠Brahim Asloum said in a statement.

Organisers said a new date would be announced soon in coordination with the WBA, adding that ticket holders for the original date will be refunded.

Khelif has not competed at official events since ⁠winning gold in the women’s welterweight division at the Paris Games in 2024 amid a gender dispute over her eligibility, after the International Boxing Association disqualified ⁠her from the 2023 World Championships based on sex chromosome tests.

World Boxing, which will oversee boxing competitions at the 2028 Olympics ⁠in Los Angeles after being granted provisional recognition by the IOC, last May announced mandatory sex testing for all boxers in its competitions.

The post Khelif’s first professional fight in Paris postponed due to injury appeared first on Made In Africa Sport.

Boxing

Moses Itauma Faces Tough Decision After IBF Orders Manadatory Title Fight With Sanchez

Published

3 weeks ago

July 4, 2026

Kenny Malone

Fast-rising Nigerian-born heavyweight boxer, Moses Itauma is facing a huge dilemma of choice, following a directive by World Boxing Federation (IBF) that he must face Frank Sanchez of Cuba in a title fight before the end of this year.

Sports247 reports that Itauma already has a bout lined up in August, which leaves him with a tough decision to take, after IBF ordered him into an agreement with Sanchez as soon as July 29th.

It’s now left to be seen if the 21-year-old Nigerian-born Britiish boxing prodigy will drop his date in August in order to concentrate on the IBF title fight, or he could try to muscle both bouts together in a huge gamble.

The dilemma facing Itauma arises after highly dominant Ukrainian, but now erstwhile three-belt holder, Oleksandr Usyk relinquished his IBF strap, along with his World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Council (WBC) titles in one swoop.

While WBC upgraded their interim champion, Agit Kabayel to take up the main belt, following Usyk’s decision, IBF have moved to arrange a bout for the vacant title, with specificc attention on Itauma, who in March got a fifth-round win over USA’s Jermaine Franklin.

Itauma is among the top three contenders on all three cards, but IBF have made the first move in trying to muscle Britain’s Best Boxer of The Year 2026 into an epic title shot within the shortest time possibile.

This is despite the fact that Itauma is already scheduled to fight Filip Hrgovic of Croatia at London’s O2 Arena on August 29th, in what he has referred to as his ‘toughest fight,’ but he may now decide to pull out or face Sanchez afterwards.

A report by Yahoo Sports adds, “Itauma has been ordered by the IBF to hold talks with Cuba’s Frank Sanchez about fighting for the vacant heavyweight title.
“The IBF said that, ‘in accordance with championship rules,’ it now wants Sanchez, who is number one in their heavyweight rankings, to fight number three contender Itauma. They have until 29 July to reach an agreement.”

The post Moses Itauma Faces Tough Decision After IBF Orders Manadatory Title Fight With Sanchez appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.