Anthony Joshua has pushed back his return to the ring by six months, just days after claiming he would “definitely” be fighting “in the next three months".
The British heavyweight nine days ago made hard work of a points win over Jermaine Franklin at the O2 Arena, marking his first win in almost two and a half years after back-to-back defeat to Oleksandr Usyk.
The former two-time world heavyweight champion was hopeful of a swift return this summer and was linked with bouts against compatriots Dillian Whyte, a former foe, and Tyson Fury, the WBC champion.
But Joshua said on his Instagram story on Sunday: "My next fight is scheduled for December. Not ideal but everything is part of a bigger picture."
The statement comes just two days after telling BBC’s The One Show: "It was nine months since I was last in the ring (before fighting Franklin). I don't want to leave it that long again. I want to be back there in the next three months."
As for which of his rivals he would prefer to face, Joshua was unequivocal after beating Franklin.
"Dillian Whyte or Tyson Fury? Well, 100 per cent Tyson Fury," Joshua said after the fight. "That is the pot of gold. That is the WBC heavyweight champion of the world. That's what it is all about, so definitely Tyson Fury."
Additional reporting by Press Association.
