Anthony Joshua's return to the ring has been delayed after he underwent elbow surgery which will keep him out of training for eight weeks.
Joshua has not fought since being beaten in five rounds by IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois at Wembley in September, while an expected fight with Tyson Fury was cancelled due to the British opponent's decision to retire.
Joshua and Fury are still in the running for a fight this year, but the 35-year-old former world champion must first recover from surgery later this month.
“I'm trying to get my body back in shape. I'm going to have a little elbow surgery scheduled for May,” he told DAZN.
“I'm finishing all the preparations. This means I won't be able to go to the gym for six to eight weeks, and once I'm well, I'll be back.”
Joshua bounced back from two defeats to Oleksandr Usyk to win three straight, but was knocked out by Dubois in a one-sided fight, forcing the former 2012 London gold medal winner to retire.
However, Joshua is aware that a fight with long-time British rival Fury would be highly beneficial for both men. Dubois returns to Wembley to face Usyk on July 19.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
