Anthony Joshua has a likely date and location for his comeback fight.
Joshua is closing in on a two-fight deal for a long-awaited heavyweight battle with Tyson Fury.
However, the 36-year-old is set to return this summer, before proceeding with a November bout with ‘The Gypsy King’.
July 25 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is the target date, sources told proboxing-fans.com.
An opponent is not yet known at this stage.
Should the fight get finalised, this would clash with the return of rising heavyweight Moses Itauma, who is set to also fight on July 25 at the O2 Arena and both Joshua and Itauma are aligned with streaming service DAZN.
DAZN declined to comment when approached by proboxing-fans.com.
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn confirmed on Thursday that talks are progressing for a Fury showdown.
The pair have been on a collision course for over a decade, however the all-British clash has failed to materialise on a number of occasions.
‘The Gypsy King’ demanded a long-awaited meeting with his rival after beating Arslanbek Makhmudov earlier this month on his return to the ring following his decision to come out of retirement in January.
‘AJ’ declined Fury’s invitation to enter the ring, but according to Hearn talks are at an advanced stage on a two-fight deal.
“Very, very advanced,” the Matchroom Chairman told Ring Magazine
“We’re going backwards and forwards on the contracts.
“I think we’re getting very close now.
“When the official announcement comes, it’ll come from His Excellency [Turki Alalshikh].
“AJ said to me, ‘make the fight’ and that’s what we’re trying to do.
“That first fight in July, the comeback fight and then the fight with Tyson Fury.
“It won’t be one fight and then sign the other, it’ll be we’re all in for both.
“Nothing done yet, but fast approaching and we’re very confident we’ll get there.”
Joshua has not fought since a sixth round knockout of Jake Paul in Miami in December.
10 days later, the 36-year-old was involved in a fatal car crash in Nigeria which took the lives of two of his close friends.
The two-time heavyweight world champion escaped with minor injuries and has returned to training camp in Spain alongside former rival and unified titlist, Oleksandr Usyk.
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