Anthony Joshua has been mentioned for everything from a French assignment against Tony Yoka to a lucrative spectacle with crossover attraction Jake Paul, but head trainer Ben Davison believes one of those ideas is a non-starter.
Asked about reports linking his fighter to a meeting with Paul, Davison dismissed the notion on safety grounds: “First and foremost, how can people even talk about that? Where’s the safety aspect in boxing? That is a serious risk with something going wrong. Somebody would pass it; somebody would allow it; somebody would sanction it - and that’s why,” he said.
Joshua has been out of the ring since his fifth-round knockout loss to Daniel Dubois at Wembley last September. Though the former two-time champion has since visited Ghana and Greece, Davison says the 35-year-old remains a gym rat: “He’s the ultimate professional. He’s always keen on making sure the body’s right, the mind’s right. The rest will do him good, but he’s still looking after himself.”
Watch Joshua vs. Dubois highlights: Watch
Reflecting on the Dubois defeat, Davison admitted “there were a few things” behind the scenes and pointed to the late-first-round blow Joshua never saw - “he couldn’t even brace for it” - as a turning point. “It was a bad performance. It’s our job to make sure the boxers go in fully prepared. He didn’t perform his best, so we have to take responsibility.”
With Eddie Hearn targeting a ring return before year’s end and speculation of a Tyson Fury super-fight in 2026, Davison says everything hinges on how Joshua feels once camp resumes. “He might need a tune-up. In the heavyweights the landscape can change so quickly; if an opportunity pops up and you’re ready, you never know.”
Image Credit: DAZN