EDDIE HEARN ISSUES VITAL UPDATE: ANTHONY JOSHUA WILL DECIDE BOXING FUTURE WHEN READY
Is AJ retiring? Eddie Hearn discusses Anthony Joshua’s boxing future following the loss of Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele.
Eddie Hearn just gave an update on Anthony Joshua, who’s already back in the gym, only weeks after losing two close friends in a car accident. Joshua, 36, was in a terrible crash in Nigeria—he survived, but his friends and team members, Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami, didn’t make it.
Joshua came out with just minor injuries. He’d actually switched seats right before the trip, which probably saved his life. Now, he’s been seen training again, lacing up his gloves in Dubai.
Hearn, who’s promoted Joshua for years at Matchroom Boxing, met up with him recently and posted about it on Instagram: “Great to catch up with @anthonyjoshua today.” He called Joshua’s resilience “inspiring” but said the loss is hitting hard. Hearn said Joshua is taking his time, and he’s grateful for all the support and love people have shown for Latz and Sina.
Ever since the crash, people have been speculating about Joshua’s future in boxing. Hearn made it clear Joshua’s not rushing back—he’s taking a real break. Speaking to Sky Sports, Hearn said, “No one really wants to talk about what’s next for him right now. That’s a conversation for later.”
He added, “You just have to give someone space to process something like this. It’s not just a bad situation—it’s one you can never prepare for. No one wants to see a friend go through this.”
“It’s heartbreaking. When he’s ready, he’ll decide what’s next. You’ll hear it from him, and that’s the only voice that matters right now. We’ll give him all the time he needs to heal, in every way. What happened is anything but normal, and it’s devastating, especially for the families of Sina and Latz. Those guys were so loved.”
Joshua hasn’t said anything publicly about his plans for boxing yet. Earlier this month, though, he posted a moving tribute to Ayodele and Ghami on social media.
He wrote, “Thank you for all the love and care you’ve shown my brothers. I didn’t even realise how special they were. I’d just be walking and joking with them, not knowing God put me in the presence of great men.
“It’s definitely tough for me, but I know it’s even harder for their parents. I’m strong, and I believe God knows their hearts. May God have mercy on my brothers.”
Meanwhile, proceedings against the driver, Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, are set to be reopened on Tuesday. He’s facing charges for causing death by dangerous driving, driving without due care, and not having a valid licence.
MOSES ITAUMA INJURED: QUEENSBERRY RESCHEDULES FRANKLIN HEAVYWEIGHT CLASH FOR MARCH 28
Moses Itauma is out! An injury has forced Jermaine Franklin's clash to be rescheduled for March 28 at Manchester’s Co-op Live.
Moses Itauma (13-0, 11 KOs) has had to pull out of his January 24 fight against Jermaine Franklin (24-2, 15 KOs) after picking up an injury in training.
Queensberry Promotions broke the news today, January 13: “Unfortunately, Moses Itauma has sustained an injury in camp. The Magnificent 7 show has been rescheduled for March 28th.”
That stings if you’re Itauma. He’s the WBA and WBO’s top-ranked heavyweight, and he’s got his sights set on a world title shot in 2026.
Franklin, 32, was coming over from Michigan to give the young heavyweight from Kent a real test. A few years back, Franklin managed to go the distance with both Dillian Whyte and Anthony Joshua, so he’s no pushover.
Itauma’s been tearing through the division, stopping 11 of his 13 opponents in the first two rounds. Last time out, the Slovakian-born southpaw made quick work of Dillian Whyte, finishing him in just two minutes in August 2025.
Now, with the fight pushed back, Itauma will be out of the ring for seven months. Not exactly what you want when you’re a rising star on the fast track to a world title. Franklin hasn’t fought since September, so both men will be shaking off a bit of rust.
In just two years as a pro, Itauma’s grabbed the Commonwealth and WBO International heavyweight titles. As an amateur, he was flawless—24 wins, no losses, 11 KOs, and gold medals at every level: English Schools, European Schoolboys, English and European Juniors, Multi-Nation BoxCup, English Youth, European Youth, and the World Youth Championships.
The new date is set: Itauma and Franklin will finally meet on March 28—just 63 days later than planned—live on DAZN. Fittingly, it’s the same day the Louvre first opened its doors back in 1794. Maybe fans in Manchester will see a masterpiece of their own at the Co-op Live arena.
THE GYPSY KING RETURNS: WHY TYSON FURY IS TRAINING IN THAILAND FOR 2026
Tyson Fury is back: As the Gypsy King prepares for 2026, USBA champ Brandon Moore and Arslanbek Makhmudov emerge as top opponents.
Tyson Fury just got offered a comeback fight against Brandon Moore, a guy who used to crunch numbers as an accountant and play basketball before turning to boxing.
Fury walked away from the sport last January after losing twice in a row to his old rival, Oleksandr Usyk. But six months later, he changed his mind—big time. Now, the ‘Gipsy King’ says he wants to fight again in 2026.
He’s 37 now, and lately he’s been training hard in Thailand with fellow boxer Kevin Lerena. Fury keeps saying this comeback isn’t about the pay cheque—it’s about his love for boxing.
He can’t wait to step back in the ring before April ends. There’s talk of a huge summer fight against a big name. A bunch of potential opponents have popped up, and now we’ve got Brandon Moore in the mix. Moore’s promoter, Dmitriy Salita, is pushing to get talks going.
“Brandon Moore is the USBA Heavyweight Champ, coming off three straight wins against undefeated fighters,” Salita told Sky Sports. “He’s a real American heavyweight—6’6”, 240-250 pounds, strong, and getting better every fight. Physically, he’s built like Anthony Joshua, but he’s his own man. He wants to prove himself at the top, and fighting Fury is exactly that.”
Moore’s 31, and honestly, he’s done a bit of everything. He grew up in a family packed with athletes—five brothers, all of whom played sports in college or even professionally. His younger brother, Shaq Moore, plays pro soccer for FC Dallas and has over 20 caps for the US national team. Shaq even scored the fastest goal in Gold Cup history—just 20 seconds in against Canada.
Brandon’s road to boxing wasn’t exactly straight. He played basketball for two years at Southeastern University in Florida, then transferred to Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee and got a degree in accounting and finance in 2016. Two years later, he stepped into a boxing gym for the first time and never looked back. By 2019, he had quit his accounting job and gone all-in on boxing.
He moved up the ranks fast after going pro in 2020. His record stands at 19-1, with 10 knockouts. The only loss came to Richard Torrez Jr, who’s still undefeated.
Moore’s definitely a name to watch, but there’s another contender in the picture—Arslanbek Makhmudov. People have been talking about the Russian heavyweight lately, and he might just get the nod for Fury’s tune-up fight. Last time out, Makhmudov beat veteran David Allen on points back in October.
Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren, had this to say to Box Nation when asked about the possible matchup: “He’s a very smart guy. He knows what he wants and how to get there. Sure, we’re talking about opponents and all that, but he’s no fool… he knows the score. Maybe we can go with Makhmudov. We’ll see.”