Eddie Hearn has hinted Anthony Joshua could retire from boxing within the next year after his bout with Daniel Dubois was pushed back.

AJ lost to his fellow Briton in September, with Dubous powering his way to a sensational knockout triumph.

Joshua and Dubois had been on course for a rematch in February.

However, their showdown has been pushed back after AJ was advised against returning to the ring amid some minor injuries he’s currently suffering from.

Boxing news: Eddie Hearn has hinted Anthony Joshua could retire from the sport within the next year after his bout with Daniel Dubois was pushed back

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Joshua previously dismissed calls for him to retire after one of the worst defeats of his career.

But Hearn has hinted the 35-year-old may not have too much left in the tank after a gruelling career so far.

“This could be [Joshua’s] last year in the sport,” the boxing promoter told The Times.

When asked about the Dubois rematch, Hearn told DAZN: “It could be the Dubois rematch but it won’t be on February 22nd.

“I think we have to see how December 21st unfolds (Usyk-Fury II) and then make a decision after that.

”Expect to see AJ in a ring next May or June.”

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will have their own rematch on December 21.

For years, rumours of Joshua and Fury potentially battling out have persisted – only for nothing to come to fruition.

Yet Hearn has suggested there remains a possibility the two Britons will fight in what would be one of the biggest showdowns in the sport’s entire history.

“It would be frustrating if we made the Dubois rematch and Fury won,” he added.

“Then we’re sitting there going, ‘Hang on a minute, we’re fighting Dubois.

“‘But we could have fought Fury in May for the biggest fight in boxing.’

Boxing news: Eddie Hearn has confirmed Anthony Joshua won’t be fighting Daniel Dubois in February

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“Win or lose, we can fight Fury next summer. But if he wins, AJ fights him for the world title.”

Dubois, meanwhile, has been on cloud nine ever since his victory over Joshua.

He recently decided to call out Jake Paul after the 27-year-old beat Mike Tyson at the AT&T Stadium in Texas last weekend.

Addressing that decision, he said: “We messaged him and decided lets call him out.

Boxing news: Anthony Joshua lost to Daniel Dubois back in September

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“Even though it is publicity you never know what can happen in this sport. It is strange times.

“He said he was going to speak to Frank Warren.”