ANTHONY JOSHUA linked up with Eddie Hearn to discuss his next fight over dinner – before random drug testers gatecrashed.
Hearn travelled to Dubai to meet with AJ – who has been out the ring since his September 2024 knockout loss to Daniel Dubois.
Instagram @eddiehearnAnthony Joshua linked up with Eddie Hearn to discuss his next fight over dinner[/caption]
But UKAD gatecrashed to randomly drug test Joshua
AJ reckons it is because of his chin up exercises
But the meal was interrupted after representatives from United Kingdom Anti-Doping came to take random samples from Joshua.
Hearn posted on Instagram: “Most tested fighter of all time. Hasn’t boxed for a year. Out for dinner in Dubai and UKAD rock up.”
In the video, Hearn says: “Just want to say, unbelievable scenes. UKAD turn up.”
Joshua then looks at the camera and replied: “Ed, they must have seen my chin ups.”
AJ flexed at the camera and later posted a video of himself doing chin ups next to a swimming pool.
UKAD – partnered with the British Boxing Board of Control – can test an athlete any time, any place, in and out of competition.
And athletes must inform UKAD of their whereabouts – failure to do so can lead to a punishment.
Hearn uploaded a picture of the two together and wrote: “Time to get this show back on the road.”
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Joshua, 35, had elbow surgery in the summer which looks to have delayed his return to the ring despite shock talks with Jake Paul.
But YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul, 28, has since announced a November 14 exhibition with lightweight champion Gervonta Davis, 30.
Paul’s camp insist they still plan to fight AJ next year but Joshua has on offer to return in early 2026 in Ghana.
And Hearn told Sky Sports: “We’re certainly not holding out for a Jake Paul fight. We’re making our own plans and that will be January, February 2026.”
Joshua recently called out Tyson Fury, 37, who in January announced his retirement following consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk, 38, in 2024.
Fury has teased a comeback of his own – with Hearn expecting the Gypsy King and AJ to have warm-up fights before a British blockbuster.
Hearn said: “Now he’s back in training and my conversations over the last couple of weeks have been very positive with him about locking in a date and returning.
The next move is to lock in that fight in early 2026 and then we want Tyson Fury.
Eddie Hearn
“Then I saw that post [directed at Fury]. When AJ posts something like that, you know that he’s on,” Hearn said.
“He’s like ‘let’s go, I’m back’ and that’s where we’re up to. So the next move is to lock in that fight in early 2026 and then we want Tyson Fury.
“We expect Fury to have another fight as well, if he’s going to fight AJ. There haven’t really been any conversations.
“The kind of vibe I’m getting from the team is ‘we’re confident it will happen’. But until we start talking, who knows?
“We’re not just putting all our eggs in one basket to say it’s Tyson Fury because before that we’re going to have another fight and we’ve got to win that one first.”
Hearn revealed there is up to ten names in the running to welcome Joshua back – including 2016 gold medallist Tony Yoka.
He revealed: “Tony Yoka, he’s definitely on a list of, I don’t know, ten. I expect it to be a top-20 guy. It’s not going to be top five.
“This is a comeback fight that should possess some danger to show that we’re ready to roll the dice in a massive fight.
“Nothing really discussed, no offers made. But I’ll be going to see AJ next week and we’re ready to lock it in.”
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