ANTHONY JOSHUA’S return to the ring is to be delayed by elbow surgery that will prevent him from training for up to eight weeks.

Joshua has not fought since being crushed inside five rounds by International Boxing Federation heavyweight king Daniel Dubois at Wembley in September with the hoped-for bout against Tyson Fury scuppered by his British rival’s latest retirement.

There is still the prospect of Joshua and Fury meeting later this year, but first the 35-year-old former unified champion must recover from the operation that will take place this month.