Hearn hasn\u2019t mentioned using a top-five contender for Joshua\u2019s tune-up for early next year. That would be a foolhardy move in my opinion, as AJ hasn\u2019t beaten a high-grade fighter in six years when he defeated the 284-lb\u00a0 Andy Ruiz in their rematch on December 7, 2019.<\/p>\n
Before Joshua\u2019s fifth-round knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in September 2024, he\u2019d successfully been maneuvered through a four-fight rebuild job by Hearn against contenders outside of the top 5.<\/p>\n
The Grim Reality After Dubois<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe he\u2019s very fragile from a mental perspective, Anthony Joshua,\u201d said McKenzie. \u201cSo, they\u2019ve got to try and rebuild him. You can\u2019t put him in with a live wire. Forget Kabayel. Forget Dubois. Forget Bakole. Anybody who is going to throw punches back at Joshua right now is going to give him nightmares, given what Dubois did to him. So, that means they have to look at somebody outside of the top 10, probably the top 15, for him to roll over.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hearn doesn\u2019t plan on rebuilding Joshua. His idea is to put him in against a tune-up level opponent in early 2026, then \u201croll the dice\u201d against a big name in the summer, which he says he hopes will be Tyson Fury. Hearn didn\u2019t mention the other heavyweights that he would consider for AJ\u2019s summer fight if he can\u2019t get Fury. Joseph Parker or Oleksandr Usyk would likely be the options he would be looking at for Joshua.<\/p>\n
Joshua\u2019s Career on the Line<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, the problem with that is when you fight a guy that\u2019s not up to scratch, you come down to their level,\u201d said McKenzie for AJ\u2019s warm-up opponent. \u201cIf Anthony Joshua comes down to somebody else\u2019s level that is not even in the top 15 and they end up chinning him, his career is finished.\u201d<\/p>\n
There are fighters at the bottom of the top 15 that Joshua could handle without much risk, but he would have to deal with criticism from fans.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, right now, he\u2019s in no man\u2019s land. If he fights, he runs the risk of getting beat. Anybody Joshua fights, they\u2019re going to be up for it big time, even if it is a so-called no-hoper,\u201d said McKenzie.<\/p>\n
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Olly Campbell has been covering boxing since 2010 and has written for Boxing News 24 since 2014. Based in the UK, he now reports on the worldwide boxing scene, delivering fight news, results, and features that connect fans to the sport\u2019s biggest stories.<\/p>\n
With a background in UK and European coverage, Olly has developed a style that blends sharp analysis with accessible writing, making his work valuable to both dedicated followers and casual fans. His reporting consistently highlights champions, contenders, and emerging prospects on the global stage.<\/p>\n