Anthony Joshua has been warned to avoid fighting Arslanbek Makhmudov when he returns to the ring next year.

Joshua has not fought since his devastating knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois in September 2024, spending over 12 months out of the ring having also undergone elbow surgery.

The two-time world champion is expected to return in early 2026, planning to fight once or possibly twice before colliding with one of the division’s biggest names next summer.

Makhmudov has fuelled talk he could be the man ‘AJ’ returns against. The towering Russian, who trains for fights by wrestling bears and having members of his team hit him in the gut with sledgehammers, went to Sheffield on Saturday night and beat Dave Allen via unanimous decision, immediately calling out Joshua in the aftermath of his im

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