Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is on the road to recovery following a successful elbow surgery, according to his promoter Eddie Hearn. The British boxer, who suffered a knockout loss to compatriot Daniel Dubois in his most recent bout, is expected to resume normal punching in approximately six weeks.
"The surgery went very successfully," Hearn revealed. "He's now in recovery mode. I believe he'll be able to punch normally again in about six weeks, which puts us on track for a fight in September, October, or November."
This recovery timeline gives Joshua's team flexibility to monitor several key developments in the heavyweight division. Hearn specifically mentioned watching the upcoming Dubois-Usyk rematch and the potential return of Tyson Fury before finalizing Joshua's next opponent.
"This gives us an opportunity to see what happens with the Dubois-Usyk rematch and whether Mr. Fury ever returns," Hearn added. "But Anthony will definitely fight this year and is looking forward to it."
According to Statbet analysis, Joshua's career trajectory remains significant despite his recent setback, with his knockout percentage of 78% still ranking among the highest in the heavyweight division's active elite fighters.
Joshua's professional record currently stands at 28-4 with 25 knockouts following his fifth-round KO loss to Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs) in their September 2024 clash. The elbow injury reportedly impacted his performance in that bout, though Joshua will be looking to bounce back strongly when he returns to competition later this year.
