Anthony Joshua, the former heavyweight champion, came face-to-face with Lebanon-born German boxer Mahmoud Charr in a tense stare-down, signaling an imminent return to the ring after a hiatus. Promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed ongoing discussions for a two-fight deal with Saudi boxing mogul Turki Alalshikh and Riyadh Season, marking Joshua’s planned comeback.
Joshua, 35, has not fought since his knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois in September, complicated by an elbow injury that required surgery. Hearn revealed, “We are actually discussing a two-fight deal with Riyadh Season. We want to box sometime this year, October, November, December.”
Charr, who has a professional record of 34-5, is eager for the opportunity to face Joshua after their recent encounter in Dubai, where Joshua had been vacationing. Charr declared during their face-off, “There’s only one giant in Syria,” showcasing his desire to make a mark in the heavyweight landscape.
A former holder of the WBA’s secondary heavyweight title, Charr lost the title to Kubrat Pulev in December and has not stepped back into the ring since. His career has faced incredible challenges, including a 2015 drive-by shooting that nearly cost him his life. The attack was the result of an online feud with a troll who had been mocking him on social media. Charr survived the assassination attempt, but it led to multiple surgeries on his hips.
Meanwhile, Hearn is keeping a close watch on the heavyweight scene, particularly the upcoming rematch between Dubois and Oleksandr Usyk set for July 19 at Wembley. “We’ll see what happens with Dubois-Usyk. We’ll see what happens with Fury,” he said. “If we don’t fight those guys, maybe we’ll fight one of those guys next year.”
As Joshua prepares for his return, the heavyweight division is poised for an exciting resurgence, with potential matchups that could define the next phase of his storied career.