Eddie Hearn says Dillian Whyte is the front runner to fight Anthony Joshua in January, with Deontay Wilder and Otto Wallin also options

Anthony Joshua is set to return to the ring early in 2023 and he is considering a number of elite options for his comeback fight.

It has been a tough last few years for Joshua, who has not recorded a victory since 2020, having fallen to back-to-back defeats against Oleksandr Usyk, losing his WBA, WBO and IBF unified heavyweight world titles.

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He may be down, but he is not out, as his promoter, Eddie Hearn, has revealed that Joshua plans to fight again in either January or February next year.

It would be understandable for 'AJ' to take an easier fight and get back to winning ways, but according to Hearn, that is not the plan as he named Joshua's long-time rival, Dillian Whyte, as his most likely next opponent.

The pair have clashed once previously in the professional ranks back in 2015 in a heated affair that almost spilled over at the end of the first round when punches were landed after the bell and both men's entourages entered the ring almost resulting in a mass brawl.

The fight got back under way, however, and it was Joshua who came out on top, knocking Whyte out in the seventh round.

Today, Whyte is looking for similar redemption to Joshua, coming off the back of a loss against Tyson Fury and so a clash with 'AJ' could be the perfect opportunity to catapult himself back into contention.

“Probably January or February is where we’re looking it," in regards to a return to the ring for Joshua.

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"In terms of names, look, talking to him [Joshua] the other day, he wants to fight Dillian Whyte, really.

"Dillian Whyte fights November 26 against [Jermaine] Franklin, who’s talking a tremendous game.

"We’ll see how that plays out, but I think Dillian Whyte is probably the front runner if he comes through."

Hearn went on to reveal other potential options for Joshua in January, as he said, "Otto Wallin has reached out numerous times. I think that’s a good fight for him as well.

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"And then, of course, there’s the Wilder situation. Not saying that’s going to be the fight for January or February, but it’s definitely a fight that he’s looking at.”

"I think the feeling of AJ is, and by the way none of them are easy fights, but the value of a tune up, if you like, sometimes they’re all as dangerous as each other, do you know what I mean?

"So, I don’t think he wants to start dropping out of the top 15 and top 10 of the governing bodies and just looking for an easy touch, I think he wants a real fight."