A decision on whether former world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua will fight in 2025 will be made later this week, promoter Eddie Hearn said Wednesday.

Joshua has been out of action for almost 14 months since he suffered a dramatic fifth-round stoppage loss to fellow British heavyweight Daniel Dubois in September 2024.

Defeat checked the 36-year-old’s progress under trainer Ben Davison and another shot at the world title, but Hearn said a tune-up bout could take place before this year is out.

“We will make a decision this week in terms of whether he will fight this year,” Hearn told Sky Sports. “We have to decide by this weekend, basically.

“It doesn’t really matter where it is. You won’t know about it until maybe even fight week. Honestly. That’s the whole purpose of it.”

Hearn added: “I think it would be so good for him but bizarre at the same time, because there’s no money in the fight. We’re not going to start using him to sell tickets. Literally he will just pop up on a show.

“He’s really up for it. I think it would be so good for him. I’d love him to go in there and just smash someone up.”
Joshua’s defeat by Dubois ended a run of four straight wins after back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk, who ended his reign as world champion in 2021.

Usyk also twice beat another British heavyweight, Tyson Fury, the former WBC champion.

Fury retired after that second loss, seemingly scuppering the prospect of a lucrative all-British bout against Joshua.

But recent reports have suggested Fury could resume his career next year, reviving hopes of a contest with Joshua.

Meanwhile, Ghana’s National Sports Authority lifted the suspension on professional boxing last week, clearing the way for Matchroom to stage their first-ever event in the West African nation five days before Christmas, reports ringmagazine.com.

The NSA had initially made its decision to suspend all boxing in the country after two deaths linked with the sport within the space of six months.

They insisted the decision was a ‘‘necessary step to protect lives, uphold the integrity of the sport and ensure its future’’ in Ghana. They have since sought to strengthen their safety protocols and improve “governance and administrative structures.”

Despite the suspension, Eddie Hearn and Matchroom this month announced that they will be promoting for the first time in Ghana on December 20, with Craig Richards and Dan Azeez set to meet in the main event of their show at Legom Sports Stadium in the capital, Accra.

Hearn recently told The Ring that the event, which will be shown live on DAZN, will act as a crucial ‘precursor’ to a potential Ghana outing for Anthony Joshua in the new year.