Matchroom chairman Eddie Hearn has revealed the month for which he expects the former two-time heavyweight world boxing champion Anthony Joshua to return to the ring for a fight.

Speculation persisted that AJ would fight the kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven in February or March following his eventual knockout of Jake Paul in a victory that fractured the internet sensation’s jaw in two places.

Following Verhoeven, Joshua would have looked to finally secure the long-awaited Battle of Britain bash against compatriot Tyson Fury, after the Gypsy King’s own comeback against Arslanbek Makhmudov mid-April.

However, a tragic car accident in which two of Joshua’s friends were killed in Nigeria put the fighter in mourning, posted a video on his social media in which he looked visibly shaken, having survived the crash, while losing his “left and his right” — people who were a key part of his life and career.

This led Hearn to suggest nothing was guaranteed with Joshua’s comeback.

Now, speaking to Betfred, Hearn has revealed a return to training could be forthcoming, and has earmarked a month in which he expects Joshua to be fit for a fight — albeit one that would be more of a tune-up, like the prospective Verhoeven clash, than a significant showdown against the likes of Fury.

“The focus for Anthony Joshua is to get back into training camp,” Hearn told Betfred this week. “It’s getting closer and I think there’s nothing more than he wants than to return to training camp, because it’s where he loves to be.”

Hearn then indicated that there isn’t just one opponent that they have in mind for that comeback, but that the fighter could compete in any number of territories for this fight.

“Really, I think July time to return. And we’re looking at multiple options around the world for that potential return.”

Hearn finished: “I haven’t spoken too deeply to Anthony yet, until he gets back into camp. And hopefully that’ll be in the next couple weeks.”

Joshua, 36, is one of the most decorated fighters British boxing has produced in the modern era with a gold medal from the 2012 Olympic Games in London, and British, Commonwealth, and world title honors in a consistent pro career that has seen him score meaningful wins over Dillian Whyte, Wladimir Klitschko, Joseph Parker, Alexander Povetkin, and Francis Ngannou.