Wembley, Riyadh, Africa: Where will Anthony Joshua fight in long-awaited comeback bout?

Anthony Joshua looks primed to make his long-awaited return to the ring in 2026 as speculation continues to fly over his future plans.

The two-time heavyweight world champion has spent this year on the sidelines as he continues to recover from various injury issues.

Having last fought for the IBF title against Daniel Dubois in September 2024, AJ will be keen to put a brutal five-round loss behind him.

Dreams of a long-awaited bout with retired rival Tyson Fury remain a mooted option, as does a trilogy fight with old foe Oleksandr Usyk.

But beyond that, the question lingers over where Joshua may next enter the ring, with the star sure to draw a crowd wherever he goes.

Here, DAZN News considers some of the venues for his comeback fight, and just who he could face off with when he makes his return.

Wembley Stadium

The first and most obvious choice, Joshua is no stranger to England's national venue, with four prior bouts held under its famous arch.

As a freshly minted professional, he cleared out Matt Legg in one round on the undercard of Carl Froch vs George Groves II in 2014.

Three years later, he returned as headliner for the first time in an era-defining bout with Wladimir Klitschko, becoming unified champion.

A 2018 win over Alexander Povetkin was followed by his loss to Dubois, but if AJ can secure Fury or Usyk, expect their dance to be here.

Kingdom Arena

Home to most of Riyadh Season's supercards, any big-name rival for Joshua could well be brokered by His Excellency Turki Alalshikh.

That could well mean a return to a favoured venue where the star has racked up two impressive wins across his career in recent years.

He first dispatched Otto Wallin there in December 2023, and then needed just two rounds to stop Francis Ngannou the following March.

But it would not necessarily need to be Fury or Usyk for a bout of this magnitude, with other stars such as Deontay Wilder possible too.

Moshood Abiola National Stadium

Talk of a super-fight in Africa has persisted for some time regarding Joshua, and Eddie Hearn has suggested it could come to fruition.

If so, then a trip to Nigeria appears to be a likely option - and with not many stars bigger than AJ around, promoters may go large too.

Renamed for the late M. K. O. Abiola, the country's premier sports venue typically plays host to their football team, the Super Eagles.

If Joshua was to come to town, you could expect a major crowd, while an opponent could be an Africa fighter such as Martin Bakole.

Principality Stadium

With plenty of large-scale open-air venues ready to host a major bout, might Joshua make a return to a former stomping ground?

AJ headed to Cardiff twice in the prime of his career, scoring a pair of his best victories during his imperial phase at the summit.

First, he cleaned out Carlos Takam in the tenth round in October 2017, then outpointed Joseph Parker to take the WBO title in 2018.

Joshua's level of support in the United Kingdom means that no matter his foe, he could deliver a big comeback show for his fans.

Madison Square Garden

It feels kind of strange that Joshua has only fought once at the home of boxing - but perhaps the result plays a part in no return.

His first professional loss, an upset to Andy Ruiz Jr., took place at MSG, and though he avenged himself in short order, it stung.

Now, as he plots his way back to the ring, AJ could avenge the ghosts of his past here by making a long-awaited American return.

A star like Wilder would be a prime pick for a fight like this, though given its smaller capacity, it could also work for a tune-up fight.

Watch Parker vs Wardley live on DAZN

Joseph Parker and Fabio Wardley fight on Saturday, October 25, to become the WBO mandatory challenger to Oleksandr Usyk. Watch the fight and undercard live and exclusive on DAZN PPV.

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