Saudi Bout 2026: Anthony Joshua Has Been Approached for a Shock Next Fight Against a Kickboxing Legend, Promoter Eddie Hearn Reveals
Anthony Joshua is coming off a sixth-round knockout of YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami – but a return in Riyadh is already on the cards in early 2026.
And Hearn confirmed reports that kickboxing great Rico Verhoeven – who is 1-0 as a boxer and unbeaten in TEN YEARS – is a potential opponent.
He said on Ariel Helwani’s show: “Rico is a fight that has been mentioned by certain people.
“We’re straight forward, ultimately, we will field offers. We can do with a fight that will prepare us for Tyson Fury— which is a difficult thing to do style-wise — so we might look at other opponents as well.
“But we’re open at the moment.”
Joshua, 36, was in line to return as early as February 14 but after two months in camp and six rounds with Paul, 28, it could be delayed until March.
Verhoeven, 36, won his one and only boxing bout in 2014 and has not lost in the kickboxing ring since 2015.
READ MORE :“Everything on the Line: Anthony Joshua Steps Into the Most
The Dutchman’s last bout was in June, beating Russian Artem Vakhitov, 34, on points.
Joshua’s knockout win over Paul, 28, was watched by 33 MILLION viewers on Netflix as Hearn hailed him the sport’s biggest star.
He said: “This changes everything. People don’t like it when I say, AJ was already arguably the biggest star in boxing.
“Now, by far the biggest star in boxing. Right now, there is absolutely no question that Anthony Joshua is the biggest star in world boxing.
“But how does that strategy change moving forward, particularly in the American market?
“Because I know how personable he is, how likeable he is, his brand has just been so easy to build with all his attributes over the years.
“And we can do the same in America, it’s a big market.”
