Eddie Hearn says WBO heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley is the backup option for Anthony Joshua if he can’t get the fight against Tyson Fury.
Challenging the knockout artist Wardley (20-0-1, 19 KOs) would be a risky fight for Joshua, and he could lose by knockout.
Can Joshua Even Reach February?
As fans saw in Fabio’s 11th-round knockout win over Joseph Parker on October 25th, he possesses a steel chin, has elite-level power, and throws beautiful combinations. Wardley is a problem for anyone in the division, particularly aging heavyweights coming off bad knockout losses.
Hearn states that Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) will fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in February 2026, and then, hopefully, the match against Fury. As the Matchroom promoter Hearn points out, the clash with the ‘Gypsy King’ Fury will require Turki Alalshikh to lure him out of retirement.
Hearn fails to mention what he’ll do if the 36-year-old Joshua loses his next fight against Jake Paul on December 19th of this month. That would certainly throw things off for AJ if he’s knocked out by Jake in their eight-rounder on Netflix at the Kaseya Center, Miami, Florida.
Hearn has been treating the fight like it’s a walk in the park for Joshua, but the way he looked in his last fight, getting dropped four times in a fifth-round knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in 2024, one can’t assume AJ will be victorious against the young gun Paul. There’s a strong belief among boxing fans that Joshua’s punch resistance is gone after 12 hard years as a pro.
Hearn Reveals the Backup Plan
“A fight in February in Riyadh and then Tyson Fury. That deal is not agreed yet with Tyson Fury. If that can’t happen, a fight with Fabio Wardley for the world heavyweight title. That’s still the aim,” promoter Eddie Hearn to Sky Sports about Anthony Joshua’s plans for 2026.
“This is just an opportunity we couldn’t say no to,” Hearn said about the Jake Paul fight on December 19th. “But 2026 normal business shall be resumed, and normal business is to try to become a three-time heavyweight world champion, or to beat Tyson Fury.
Last Updated on 12/01/2025
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