Anthony Joshua in negotiations, deadline set for final bout agreement.

Anthony Joshua is in talks with potential opponents, but time is ticking away for a possible fight to be scheduled in 2025.

Having been absent from the ring for nearly 14 months following a surprising fifth-round defeat by British heavyweight Daniel Dubois last September, Joshua's journey under trainer Ben Davison hit a roadblock. However, Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn hinted at a potential warm-up bout during the grand arrivals of Chris Eubank Jr vs. Conor Benn II, hinting that it might even happen before the year concludes.

"We're currently in discussions with several opponents for a warm-up fight," stated Hearn.

"The aim is for Joshua to avoid substantial media commitments and simply focus on training, weigh-ins, and fighting without much fanfare.

"The primary goal is to ease back into the fighting rhythm, disregarding financial aspects. Joshua is accustomed to fighting in high-stakes matchups in front of large crowds, and sometimes, all he needs is a light-hearted warm-up."

Hearn specified a deadline: "We'll finalize Anthony's next fight decision within this week."

A surprising contender for Joshua could be YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.

Paul expressed his willingness, stating, "People suggest I fight opponents my own size. How about taking on someone larger? Joshua poses a tougher challenge than Crawford solely due to his size. It's currently the most challenging fight for me."

While Hearn is open to the idea of squaring off against Paul, no concrete offer has been made as of now.

"We've had initial talks," Hearn confirmed.

"If a warm-up fight materializes, facing Jake Paul could be an interesting prospect.

"It's unclear how keen Paul is on this matchup. There's no major development to report at present. However, they are expected to reach their decision soon. Hearn emphasized that if Joshua does opt for a low-key warm-up fight in 2025, it won't be against a high-profile adversary.

"If a bout occurs this year, it might fly under the radar unless it involves Jake Paul," he added.

Joshua's loss to Dubois concluded a streak of four consecutive victories post losses to Oleksandr Usyk.

With longtime rival Tyson Fury gearing up for a comeback in 2026, the much-anticipated showdown between Fury and Joshua remains a possibility.