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Anthony Joshua Reveals Layoff Due to Surgery

Originally posted on Big Fight Weekend
By S Saadeq Ahmed | Last updated May 3, 2025 11:54 PM ET

Former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) has revealed that he will be out of the gym for at least six weeks following elbow surgery later this month.

The revelation was made at the Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez vs. William Scull event broadcast in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Joshua was speaking to DAZN’s Claudia Trejos in between rounds during the cruiserweight title fight between Badou Jack and Noel Mikaelyan when he made the admission. He did not specify why the surgery was required.

Anthony Joshua to Have Surgery in May

When Trejos inquired as to when fight fans can expect to see Joshua in the ring again, this was what he had to say:

“When do you want me back, people? I’m trying to get my body right. I’ve got to actually have a little surgery on my elbow. A small surgery sometime in May. Final[izing] the details [of the surgery], which would see me out of the gym for maybe six to eight weeks and then as soon as I’m healed I’ll be back.”

Anthony Joshua reveals he will be undergoing elbow surgery this month which will keep him out of the gym for 6-8 weeks

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— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) May 4, 2025

Potential Tyson Fury Fight on the Horizon?

The Joshua revelation comes not long after fellow heavyweight Tyson Fury (34-2-1, 24 KOs) posted a training video to Instagram. It sparked conversation of a possible clash between the two Brits later this year. Promoter Frank Warren recently described such a fight as “generational.”

“That would tempt all of us, to get him to do it,” said Warren to Sky Sports.

“I know AJ wants it, Tyson at one stage did want it and we were close but it didn’t happen.

“You never know what can happen in boxing.”

Joshua is coming off of a brutal stoppage loss to Daniel Dubois that took place last year at Wembley Stadium. On the other hand, Fury had two decision losses to Oleksandr Usyk in fights that took place in Saudi Arabia. With both Joshua and Fury not having anything lined up at the moment, could a clash between the two materialize later this year? The coming months will reveal whether or not that is the case.

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