Anthony Joshua’s clinical sixth-round knockout of Jake Paul in Miami finally closed the chapter on his influencer crossover experiment. While the ‘Judgment Day’ event generated the expected commercial windfall, the British heavyweight’s focus must now return to legacy-defining challenges.
Anthony Joshua’s next fight
With the spectacle behind it itthe roadmap for Joshua’s 2026 campaign is already starting to take shape, largely orchestrated by Saudi advisor Turki Alalshikh. The near future points away from pure exhibition fighting and toward a mix of dangerous crossovers and domestic mega-fights.
Rico Verhoeven
Rico Verhoeven has emerged as the clear frontrunner for a return in February or March. Promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed talks are ongoing with the former Glory Kickboxing champion, who recently gave up his title to pursue boxing opportunities. This match bridges the gap between the entertainment-oriented Paul fight and the serious heavyweight battle. Verhoeven offers brand awareness and physical sustainability without the immediate risk profile of a heavyweight participant from the top five. It allows Joshua to remain active early in the year while keeping his brand in the global spotlight, specifically targeting the Dutch and European markets.
Tyson Fury
The long-awaited confrontation with Tyson Fury remains the ultimate target before the end of 2026. Despite Fury’s current ‘retirement status’ following back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk, the financial incentives for a ‘Battle of Britain’ remain undeniable.
Reports from The ring indicate that this fight will be lined up to headline the Riyadh season, provided both men successfully pass their interim fights. Fury will likely need his own tune-up fight, possibly against Fabio Wardley, to shake off ring rust before stepping in for Joshua.
Daniel Dubois
For boxing purists, a rematch with Daniel Dubois represents unfinished business on Joshua’s ledger. Dubois handed Joshua a crushing defeat in September 2024, a loss that cut Joshua’s path to the IBF title.
While the Verhoeven vs. Fury fights offer more financial upside, avenging the Dubois loss remains the only way Joshua can legitimately claim to be the world’s best heavyweight rather than just its biggest star. However, with the Fury timeline set at the end of 2026, a Dubois rematch appears unlikely in the near future, leaving Verhoeven as the logical, if somewhat unorthodox, next step.
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