Eddie Hearn, the promoter of Anthony Joshua, believes the British‑Nigerian heavyweight needs another bout before taking on the division’s elite—Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder or Oleksandr Usyk. Joshua returned to winning ways on 1 April, defeating Jermaine Franklin, but analysts suggest that a further fight under his new coach, Derrick James, would be prudent before he challenges the top‑ranked opponents.
Despite this advice, Joshua announced that he will not fight in July as originally planned and has instead signed up for a bout in December. Hearn told DAZN that the decision is not tactical but rather a cautious approach, emphasizing the need for Joshua to “step up to the plate slowly.” He explained, “You’re better off being honest and saying, look, this is where we’re at. I need him to have another fight with a level slightly above Jermaine Franklin to gel with Derrick James, hopefully go in there with a little bit more confidence to prepare him for Fury or Wilder in December.”
There is speculation about the reasons behind the schedule change, though Hearn said the plan is not yet final and could be affected by trainer commitments, injuries, or a lucrative offer that might be too tempting to risk injury or defeat. “We’re not ruling out Fury or Wilder. We’ll look at those. If a big offer comes in or a big site comes in—unlikely in July—but I just really want to see momentum,” he told DAZN. Whether a major offer will materialize for a winter showdown remains uncertain, especially given the current state of the heavyweight division.
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