Anthony Joshua Planned Against Filip Hrgovic In March 2024

Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (Instagram/@anthonyjoshua).

JAKARTA The former world heavyweight champion twice, Anthony Joshua, is likely to return to three fights in one calendar year 2024.

The boxer's promoter, Eddie Hearn, said the plan for the first fight on this year's calendar was March 2024 against Croatian champion Filip Hrgovic.

"I think he will fight in March 2024. Then, I think he will fight in August 2024 and September 2024."

"So, whether it's three times a year or three times from March 2024 to March (2025), like that," Hearn told IFL TV.

In 2023, the British champion underwent three fights for the first time since 2016. He managed to win all these duels.

The three wins were a good comeback after two consecutive defeats against Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and 2022, which cost him the world title.

The first fight took place in April 2023 against Jermaine Franklin. Then, two later clashes against Robert Helenius and Otto Wallin, respectively in August and December 2023.

Joshua vs Hrgovic's duel came after Usyk fought Tyson Fury in February 2024 for the undisputed world heavyweight title race.

Usyk's fight against Fury may have been a rematch clause. Therefore, the IBF title will be vacant after the first duel so Joshua will enter the ring against Hrgovic to win the title.

However, Hearn said there was no guarantee the plan could run on time until March 2024. He stressed that everything could change at any time.

"A lot has to happen in March 2024 to allow that to happen with Hrgovic. Obviously, (Fury) and Usyk will fight in mid-February 2024," he said.

"If it (Joshua vs Hrgovic) is played in March 2024, it's definitely a possibility. Maybe it's a game that, if everything goes according to plan, can be a summer game."

"As I said, our current talks are about mapping out the next four or five games for AJ in 2024 and most likely throughout his career."