Anthony Joshua has not fought since September and may be out of the ring for a year all in.

The British two-time world heavyweight champion suffered his fourth loss in his last ring outing. It came in his attempt to become a three-time belt holder against Daniel Dubois, but he was stopped inside five rounds.

The well-ranked 35-year-old is now towards the end of his career having competed at the top for more than a decade. Initially, he was keen to take an immediate rematch with Dubois, but small ‘niggling’ injuries put paid to that and instead, he has sat out the last few months, maybe hoping for a titanic battle with long-time rival Tyson Fury.

However, after Fury was beaten on points, twice, in back-to-back fights with Oleksandr Usyk, which is what also happened to Joshua in 2021 and 2022, he announced his retirement which means that fight is off the table, for now at least. ‘AJ’s team hoped an early summer return fight with Dubois could still happen, but had also looked at other top contenders including Deontay Wilder, Agit Kabayel and Joseph Parker.

Speaking to Ring Magazine, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has now revealed that his charge has a new injury and is now faced with pushing back his return date.

“The top half of his body, I’ll give you that. It’s nothing major, but it means he’s been returning to training but he’s not quite ready to return to camp. He needs about another eight weeks until he can punch properly so you’re looking at April, May [for training] so that leads you to the back end of summer [for a fight date.]”

Many will hope that with the extra lay-off for Joshua, Fury may reverse his retirement decision and the two Brits can finally get it on. In the meantime, the wheels of the heavyweight division will continue to turn. Parker has been ordered to face unified champion Usyk, however the Ukrainian remains targetting an undisputed showdown with Dubois.

Anthony Joshua has fought both Joseph Parker and Daniel Dubois across his impressive career.

When ‘AJ’ took on Parker in 2018, it was to unify world titles. It was a technical fight and marked the first time that Joshua was taken the full 12 rounds by anyone. He won on points and moved on but was later dethroned by last minute stand in Andy Ruiz Jr in June 2019, before winning the rematch.

Further losses against Oleksandr Usyk left him without any belts, and his bid to become three-time champion against new owner of the IBF belt, Dubois, ended in a fifth round knockout last September.

Dubois was due to fight Parker in a second defence of his title last month but fell ill and withdrew at the last minute. Instead, Parker knocked out late replacement Martin Bakole inside two rounds.

The young Brit has been questioned by some as to how serious the viral infection was, though his team shut remains adamant they had no choice but to pull out after doctor’s advice. Many fighters have competed without being at their best and loved to regret it.

Speaking to iFL TV, Joshua was asked whether it was sensible for Dubois to pull out of the fight and he absolutely agreed with his former foe’s decision.

“You’ve got to be 100% to win and defend the title. Credit to his dad, everyone needs a father figure sometimes or someone you respect to tell you listen son, don’t get in that ring unless you’re a 100%, it’s important. You’ve got to be 100%. Having a father figure, or a father in your life, a senior figure that you respect. That could have been Dubois tonight but he’s still IBF champion so he lives to fight another day.”

Dubois now has a big choice for his return to the ring. Either chase a rematch with Usyk for the undisputed, honour the voluntary defence with Parker, or possibly take a second bout with Joshua. By all accounts, he is leaning towards the four-belt clash with Usyk.

Eddie Hearn names the FIVE fighters who Anthony Joshua could face in comeback fight – after British star was ‘snubbed for Saudi showdown’

Eddie Hearn has revealed the five fighters who could face Anthony Joshua as the heavyweight star looks to return to the boxing ring later this year.

The 35-year-old has not fought since his comprehensive loss to Daniel Dubois last year, where was knocked out by his compatriot in front of 96,000 fans at Wembley.

In a turn of events, last month, he was tipped to step in and replace Dubois after he fell ill and was forced to pull out of his bout against Joseph Parker in Riyadh.

Reports claimed at the time that Joshua was not considered as a late replacement option for Dubois, despite being in Riyadh at the time.

Perhaps that’s because he already has his sights on another bout after promoter Hearn revealed the five-name shortlist of boxers who could face Joshua.

Speaking  ‘Daniel Dubois still [is the frontrunner]. In an ideal world, he will fight [Tyson] Fury, if not Dubois.

‘There is also Joseph Parker, who I think would be a great fight, there is Agit Kabayel and Deontay Wilder, obviously [Turki Alalshikh] has stated he would love to see that fight.

‘I guess the [Martin] Bakole fight is still there, but he would probably get criticised if he fought Bakole, so less likely.’

The potential fight that would generate the most interest among British fans is undoubtedly Joshua vs Fury.

But Fury announced his retirement last month with immediate effect on the heels of his second defeat by Usyk in December of last year.

Last month, Joshua gave an intriguing reply when asked about his future in the ring when he was interviewed ringside at the Beterviev vs Bivol II card.

When questioned on his future, Joshua said: ‘More fights, this is my life, this is what I do. Right now I sit outside and I watch and then I’ll make my return one day.

‘I sit back as a fan and watch the great people in the sport I love.’

Joshua, 35, won the first 22 fights of his professional career, before losing his WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles in a shock defeat by Andy Ruiz Junior in June 2019.

The Watford-born fighter bounced back by beating Ruiz in a rematch six months later but he has since lost twice to Oleksandr Usyk, before being knocked out by Daniel Dubois in his most recent fight in September last year.

Joshua won four fights against relatively easier opposition between his rematch defeat by Usyk and last year’s loss to Dubois.