Anthony Joshua has been warned by his promoter Eddie Hearn that his "career is over" if he loses on his return.
Joshua has suffered back-to-back defeats against rival Oleksandr Usyk who inflicted a second loss on 'AJ' in Saudi Arabia last August. The British star is in desperate need of redemption upon his return to have any chance of returning to the pinnacle of the division, and is planning a three-fight year in 2023.
It is expected the 33-year-old heavyweight will make his return in April with a whole host of opponents in the running to secure the clash including Demsey McKean and Otto Wallin. And Hearn has demanded his charge arrests his recent slump in form.
"This is the most excited I've been on Anthony Joshua's journey so far because I think it's exciting," Hearn told iFL TV when assessing Joshua's return plan. "You go into that fight in April – you know that with defeat, it's all over, really. It would be a third back-to-back defeat. And yet a great performance and a showreel knockout gets everyone saying, ‘We’re back, we’re back baby.
"That’s what I can’t wait for, because I love it when our backs are against the wall. That’s the best moments and this is one of those moments for AJ. AJ then wants a big fight in the summer. The one that would make sense and the one that should be hopefully quite straightforward to make is the rematch with Dillian Whyte.
“We’re open to a Deontay Wilder fight, we’re open to a Tyson Fury fight. But yeah, in my mind, with AJ fighting in April and Dillian probably fighting around the same time, that would lead them to a big all-British heavyweight fight in the summer. That’s what I’d like to do. If they [other big fights] appear somehow, 100 per cent willing to look at those as well. But the key is April 1.”
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Joshua has now parted ways with trainer Robert Garcia who took command of his rematch with Usyk, and he will now train in the US alongside a new coach. He is yet to nail down an opponent but Australian star McKean is hoping to step up to the plate.
And the contender has vowed he is the man to retire Joshua who could look to hang up his gloves if he loses again. McKean told Sky Sports: "We are one of the frontrunners for a possible opponent for Anthony Joshua. I could be (the man to retire Joshua) and I am very confident I can do that. But don't get me wrong, there is still more fights for AJ. If he loses to me, a top-10 heavyweight as well, that shouldn't be the end."
