Anthony Joshua could face Fabio Wardley in 2026 for the WBO title

Eddie Hearn has stated that Anthony Joshua vs Faio Wardley is a very real possibility

Anthony Joshua (28-4, 25 KO’s)  is preparing to take on Jake Paul (12-1, 7 KO’s) on December 19 in Miami, Florida.

Following the bout, and assuming a Joshua victory, the Briton is set for a huge 20226, culminating in a proposed bout against Tyson Fury - should negotiations go to plan. 

Meanwhile, Fabio Wardley has recently been upgraded to WBO world champion following Oleksandr Usyk's decision to vacate the heavyweight belt. 

With Joshua currently ranked at number 10 by the WBO, should the 36-year-old fail to secure a bout with ‘The Gypsy King’, he would be eligible to face Wardley for the WBO strap. 

Speaking to Sky Sports, Eddie Hearn relayed that chasing a matchup with Fury remains Joshua’s top priority.

“The plan really in the hands of [Saudi financier] Turki Alalshikh was a fight in February in Riyadh and then Tyson Fury.

"That deal is not agreed yet with Tyson Fury as I understand it. So there's not a lot we can do. We're in. We're up for it. We've always been up for it, not a problem.

"Turki Alalshikh's got to make that deal happen - he's not failed yet and we're very confident he can."

He went on to reveal that should the bout not happen, Fabio Wardley is the next best option for Joshua in 2026. 

"If that can't happen, a fight with Fabio Wardley for the world heavyweight title, why not? That's still the aim," Hearn said.

Despite ‘AJ’s’ December contest against Jake Paul, Hearn stressed that his fighter still has his sights set firmly on ascending to the top of the Heavyweight division once more.

"This isn't where we're going now, this is just an opportunity we couldn't say no to," Hearn said.

"But 2026 normal business shall be resumed and normal business is to try to become a three-time heavyweight world champion, or to beat Tyson Fury. That's really the aim for 2026."