By Ayegba James
Towering Russian heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov will fight Anthony Joshua in 2026, with the 6ft 5in star claiming the former two-time world champion accepted the challenge during an exchange.
Makhmudov, who is set to face British veteran Dave Allen in a headliner this weekend in Sheffield, revealed he had offered himself as Joshua’s next opponent, and the Watford native responded positively.
“Yeah, we just spoke a little bit on Instagram,” Makhmudov said during an interview with Boxing News.
“Just friendly, you know. And I offered him as a next fight, he said, ‘Okay, next year then. Next year we can do it.’
“For me, the fight is interesting because it’s a good opportunity. And in sport, because we had a bit of a story in the amateurs. He lost to guys in the European championship and the world championship — I beat these two guys. For me, it’s interesting.”
Joshua is being lined up for a comeback fight in Nigeria early next year following his loss to Daniel Dubois in a world heavyweight title bout at Wembley Stadium in September last year.
The former champion continues to find himself linked to various opponents, with Congolese heavyweight Martin Bakole among those expressing interest in facing him.
Bakole, a former sparring partner of Joshua, has volunteered to face the British-Nigerian boxer in what he described as ‘the Rumble in the Jungle II.’
“I’d take the fight with Anthony Joshua in a heartbeat. We are both African fighters, and now we’re seeing boxing come back to Africa,” Bakole told Sky Sports.
“Anthony Joshua doesn’t want to fight me. He knows what happened in sparring. If we get in the ring, I’m going to knock him out, without doubt.”
Promoter Dr Ezekiel Adamu, who recently staged the successful Chaos in the Ring event in Lagos in association with Amir Khan, confirmed that Bakole is among several options being considered for Joshua’s return.
Targeting an early 2026 return to the ring in a historic trip to Africa, Joshua was first tied to a showdown in Ghana; however, in recent days, an event featuring the former world champion closer to his roots in Nigeria has been floated.
