British boxing promoter Eddie Hearn told Betfred that his heavyweight charge Anthony Joshua will return in November or December against a top 15 opponent.
AJ’s long-term promoter from Essex shared the following update earlier today, “He will return in November/December and fight a top 15 guy, hopefully he’ll come back with an impressive win and then move into those Tyson Fury fights in 2026.”
In light of this new information, Sporting News has listed every single heavyweight currently ranked in the top 15 in the world right now, which consists of 30 names.
Top 15 Opponents
Lawrence Okolie WBC #1
Michael Hunter WBA #1
Moses Itauma WBO #1
Derek Chisora IBF #2
Filip Hrgovic WBO #2
Efe Ajagba WBC #3
Jarrell Miller WBA #3
Zhilei Zhang WBO #3
Martin Bakole WBC #4
Lenier Pero WBA #4
Frank Sanchez IBF #4
Jared Anderson WBO #5
Bakhidir Jalalov WBC #7
Deontae Pettigrew WBA #7
Nelson Hysa WBA #8
David Adeleye WBO #8
Richard Torrez Jr. WBC #9
Dave Allen WBA #9
WBO #9 Murat Gassiev
Mourad Aliev WBC #10
Mahmoud Charr WBA #10
Deontay Wilder WBC #12
Justus Huni WBA #12
Andy Ruiz Jr. WBC #13
Dainier Pero WBA #13
Yoandy Toirac WBA #14
Guido Vianello IBF #14
Vladiyslav Sirenko WBO #14
Joseph Goodall WBA #15
Johnny Fisher WBO #15
Joshua hasn’t fought since losing to Daniel Dubois in September 2024, which is now the longest he has been away from a professional ring for.
He explained why he has taken the longest holiday of his boxing career yet, “I took a year out, first time in about 12 to 13 years as a professional, not even including the amateur stuff.
“But I took a year out, get my body right. I’m at a different stage in my career where I can look at time a bit differently.
“I’m all these years in front of me like the main man here, so I gotta make like really executive decisions about what I do next.
“So the minute I come back, you know I’ll come back with a bang rather than just keep rolling through and just going with the motions of the sport.
“I just thought, let me take some time out, so when I do come back, I come back fully active and ready to go again, and take the division by storm again!”
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