ANTHONY JOSHUA was photographed with his footballer friend Troy Deeney while he waited for his return to the ring.
As a way to avenge his September defeat at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the former world heavyweight champion planned to face Oleksandr Usyk in 2022's first half.
This photo of the couple was shared on social media
However, Usyk now serves as the frontline for Ukraine against Vladimir Putin's Russian invasion.
Joshua could be eligible for an interim bout, while he awaits for the second chance at the Ukrainian champion.
He took Friday off from training to spend some time with Deeney, the Birmingham City striker.
Deeney spent eleven years at Watford, the hometown of Joshua, and regularly writes a column in SunSport.
They met at a barbershop while they were having their hair cut.
Joshua captioned a photo of Joshua and Deeney enjoying some downtime together, saying "Deeney in this building."
Deeney replied, "Boss men appreciate hospitality," before adding, "Always vibez avec the big fella (sic. )".
Eddie Hearn, Joshua's promoter, confirmed earlier this week that they are open to another fight before the Usyk match.
Hearn stated that it was difficult for him to speak for Oleksandr Usyk on The MMA Hour.
"First, my thoughts are with everyone in Ukraine and people who show incredible bravery out there. I'm thinking especially of Oleksandr and the great fighters from the past.
"He can take the time he wants. We [Joshua’s camp] want Oleksandr Usyk to win.
"Whether there is a delay in the fight or we have an interim bout is dependent on Oleksandr Usyk's situation and how long he needs.
It's an emotional and personal time for people in Ukraine. We'll be respectful of them and help them whenever we can, but we won't be looking for ways to escape our obligation.
Get a PS10 Bonus with 100s of Games to Play and No Deposit Required"Oleksandr Usyk is the only fight AJ wants at this time. We'll fight somewhere in the middle, but we will respect Oleksandr Usyk's time and talk to his advisors.
"If the contractual period is delayed, we will grant it, but we are willing to fight for that delay.
"We don’t want this obligation to slip away."
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https://secondsaway.co.uk/boxing/jose-ramirez-still-has-a-lot-to-do
