Anthony Joshua to undergo elbow surgery in May before planning boxing return

Anthony Joshua to Have Elbow Surgery Before Targeting Ring Return

Former heavyweight champion says recovery will take 6–8 weeks after procedure

Anthony Joshua will undergo minor elbow surgery this May, the British heavyweight confirmed this week, as he sets his sights on a return to the ring later in 2025. The procedure comes in the aftermath of his shocking fifth-round knockout loss to Daniel Dubois last September at Wembley Stadium — a defeat that put his future in boxing under scrutiny.

“I’ve got to have a little surgery on my elbow, a small surgery, sometime in May,” Joshua told Dazn.
“That will see me out of the gym for maybe six to eight weeks, and then, as soon as I’m healed, I’ll be back.”

The 35-year-old two-time world champion, who holds a record of 28 wins (25 KOs) and 4 losses, hasn’t fought since that devastating loss. He appeared publicly over the weekend, attending Canelo Alvarez’s win over William Scull in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Comeback talks reignite amid surgery news

Joshua’s comments come amid speculation about a potential super-fight with Tyson Fury, another two-time world heavyweight champion. Though Fury declared his retirement in January, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn remains optimistic that the long-anticipated bout can still be made.

“All it takes is a direct message on social media between the fighters,” Hearn said in April.

The idea of a British mega-fight between Joshua and Fury has long captivated boxing fans, but failed negotiations, scheduling conflicts, and retirements have kept it from materializing.

Timeline of a storied career

Joshua burst onto the global scene with Olympic gold in 2012, then captured his first world title in 2016. He became a unified heavyweight champion in 2018 by holding the WBA, IBF, and WBO belts, before suffering his first professional loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. in 2019. Joshua avenged that defeat later that year but lost his titles again in 2021 to Oleksandr Usyk.

His career trajectory since then has been up and down, with high-profile wins over the likes of Wladimir Klitschko and Alexander Povetkin, and tough losses to Usyk (twice) and most recently to Dubois.

What’s next for Joshua?

With surgery expected to keep him out of training until mid-summer, a realistic return date could be late 2025, depending on recovery. Whether Joshua aims for a warm-up fight or jumps straight into a marquee matchup remains to be seen.

What’s certain is that the path back will require both physical healing and strategic recalibration. With younger challengers rising and veterans like Fury and Usyk still in the conversation, Joshua’s next moves could define the final chapter of his career.

Stay with The Horizons Times for updates on Anthony Joshua’s recovery, fight announcements, and the latest from the heavyweight boxing world.