Anthony Joshua’s comeback fight next year could see him face Arslanbek Makhmudov — the towering Russian known for wrestling bears and taking sledgehammer blows to the stomach as part of his training.
Joshua has been out of action since suffering a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in September last year. During his year-long break, the former Olympic gold medallist underwent elbow surgery, hoping to eventually secure a long-awaited clash with Tyson Fury in an all-British showdown.
However, the two-time heavyweight champion is now expected to make his return in early 2026 against a lower-profile opponent — with Makhmudov emerging as the leading contender.
Standing at 6ft 5in, Makhmudov built an 18-fight winning streak before being stopped by Agit Kabayel in December 2023. His intimidating presence and unorthodox training methods have earned him a fearsome reputation in the heavyweight division.
Videos on his Instagram show him grappling with a bear and enduring repeated sledgehammer blows to his midsection — demonstrations of his extreme conditioning routine.
Ahead of his upcoming fight, Allen told Seconds Out that Makhmudov has likely been lined up as Joshua’s next opponent if he wins. “Because Makhmudov is a much scarier-looking guy than me,” Allen admitted. “He might look more of a threat. That’s what I think happens if the result goes that way.”
Makhmudov has also claimed that Joshua personally reached out to him on Instagram, suggesting a fight could be next if he secures victory this weekend. “By the way, Joshua told me that if I win this fight, then I will fight with him,” Makhmudov told talkSPORT.com. “He said next year we can do it, Inshallah.”
