BoxRec

Anthony Joshua Indicates Only "Five Years" Left in His Career

WBO, WBA, IBF, IBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, 31-years-old, is not planning to fight until he's nearly 40.

Following his Olympic gold medal win at the 2012 London games, the British superstar turned pro in October of 2013.

Last month, he raised his record to 24-1 with 22 knockouts after stopping IBF mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev in the ninth round.

During the next few years, Joshua is going to press for the biggest fights possible.

"This isn't the start of my career. I'm coming towards the end of my career," Joshua told Sky Sports News.

"I'm not someone who lives in the moment and thinks that everything is just like for now. I'm always planning ahead so I'm coming towards the end of my career.

"Five years left and that's basically an Olympic cycle. I've got an Olympic cycle and a little bit more left, so when you see the next Olympics happen is when I'll be coming to the end of my career and the next generation will be coming through."

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Joshua saw action only once in 2020 - with the Pulev fight.

At the moment Joshua's team is looking to finalize a two-fight unification agreement with WBC world champion Tyson Fury. Their respective handlers are in active discussions to make the fight happen in May or early June. Because of the current lockdown, the first contest is not likely to take place in the UK - with locations like Saudi Arabia and Singapore in the running to host the fight.

Should the negotiations fall apart, then Joshua will be forced to make a mandatory defense with Oleksandr Usyk, who currently sits as the WBO's top man. Usyk also captured gold at the 2012 games and unified the entire cruiserweight division before deciding to move up to the heavyweight limit in 2019.

If that's including this year, then he should fight AT LEAST 10 more times..

Unless he suffers a loss and that year has 1 fight..

a 31 year old planning to retire in 5 years, im shocked

If he ever fights Fury it could be much sooner than that.

bigjack wrote: ↑07 Jan 2021, 05:23 If he ever fight Fury it could be much sooner than that.

You reckon?

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑07 Jan 2021, 05:28

bigjack wrote: ↑07 Jan 2021, 05:23 If he ever fight Fury it could be much sooner than that.

You reckon?

As i said ' it could be '

I think he will retire before that.

TheGman wrote: ↑07 Jan 2021, 08:53 I think he will retire before that.

Easy, if he beats Fury, there isn't anyone else for him at this stage of his career. I am sure he isn't hanging around for Uysk.

Fray Bentos wrote: ↑07 Jan 2021, 08:56

TheGman wrote: ↑07 Jan 2021, 08:53 I think he will retire before that.

Easy, if he beats Fury, there isn't anyone else for him at this stage of his career. I am sure he isn't hanging around for Uysk.

Still want to see AJ-Wilder..

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑07 Jan 2021, 08:57

Fray Bentos wrote: ↑07 Jan 2021, 08:56

TheGman wrote: ↑07 Jan 2021, 08:53 I think he will retire before that.

Easy, if he beats Fury, there isn't anyone else for him at this stage of his career. I am sure he isn't hanging around for Uysk.

Still want to see AJ-Wilder..

That would be a good fight to be fair!

Fray Bentos wrote: ↑07 Jan 2021, 08:56

TheGman wrote: ↑07 Jan 2021, 08:53 I think he will retire before that.

Easy, if he beats Fury, there isn't anyone else for him at this stage of his career. I am sure he isn't hanging around for Uysk.

I think Fury beats him easily tbh mate and after that he will have a rematch and be beaten again then he might have another fight but doubt he will have the hunger by this time. I think he beats Usyk by late stoppage.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑07 Jan 2021, 08:57

Fray Bentos wrote: ↑07 Jan 2021, 08:56

TheGman wrote: ↑07 Jan 2021, 08:53 I think he will retire before that.

Easy, if he beats Fury, there isn't anyone else for him at this stage of his career. I am sure he isn't hanging around for Uysk.

Still want to see AJ-Wilder..

Me too,still a massive fight for this era.

TheGman wrote: ↑07 Jan 2021, 09:02

Fray Bentos wrote: ↑07 Jan 2021, 08:56

TheGman wrote: ↑07 Jan 2021, 08:53 I think he will retire before that.

Easy, if he beats Fury, there isn't anyone else for him at this stage of his career. I am sure he isn't hanging around for Uysk.

I think Fury beats him easily tbh mate and after that he will have a rematch and be beaten again then he might have another fight but doubt he will have the hunger by this time. I think he beats Usyk by late stoppage.

I would pick Fury as well but if Joshua got past Fury then I can't see him hanging around, he must be approaching his mid-30's and insanely rich. He has done well out of the sport and I can't see him hanging around much longer unless it is to avenge a loss to Fury.

Fury-AJ is the ultimate for British boxing. The winner will find it hard to get motivated for anyone. So will the loser. Especially at the drop in wages they’ll be offered.

I’d have cleared off long ago with the money he’s made

TheGman wrote: ↑07 Jan 2021, 09:03

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑07 Jan 2021, 08:57

Fray Bentos wrote: ↑07 Jan 2021, 08:56

Easy, if he beats Fury, there isn't anyone else for him at this stage of his career. I am sure he isn't hanging around for Uysk.

Still want to see AJ-Wilder..

Me too,still a massive fight for this era.

Yhe, it's like we still got to see Lewis-Tyson, at SOME point..

Would be nice to see AJ-Wilder get it on.. Mabe sooner rather than later..

Can be AJ's last few fights.

TheGman wrote: ↑07 Jan 2021, 09:03

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑07 Jan 2021, 08:57

Fray Bentos wrote: ↑07 Jan 2021, 08:56

Easy, if he beats Fury, there isn't anyone else for him at this stage of his career. I am sure he isn't hanging around for Uysk.

Still want to see AJ-Wilder..

Me too,still a massive fight for this era.

Definitely, Fury is the fight we need next but AJ/Wilder is a far more exciting prospect in terms of pure entertainment imo.

It would be egde of the seat stuff.

He's fought the "old guard" of Klitschko, Povetkin and Pulev. Fought contemporaries in Whyte, Parker and Ruiz. If he gets the 2 fight deal with Fury and then fights Wilder and Usyk (assuming they keep winning themselves) in the next few years then I wouldn't blame him for walking away before that 5 years is up.

Who else is out there? Perhaps in a few years time the likes of Yoka, Hrogivc and Ajagba will be knocking on the door. But I don't see the appeal (for him as much as us) in knocking over ABC challengers for years and years.

He won’t be boxing much longer.

Meh, just more attention seeking. Not much else going on now, why not get in the news for a spell.

the media go to him if anything, might as well comment

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑07 Jan 2021, 21:46 the media go to him if anything, might as well comment

Did they ask him when he'll retire?

probably, these major dudes rarely go out themselves arranging this type of stuff, the media comes to them like fangirls looking to fill their pages and someone else sets it up

I don't like all those long-term plans. Anything can happen. Fury will destroy him. The likes of Joyce can take the remains of him earlier.

Wow... boxer retires at 36... what a scoop

Anyways, AJ is the type of character that will always want big fights. If Fury beats him twice, he will be out in the cold for years until Fury retires... I can't see him mixing with the likes of Chisora and Whyte for the next few years, what's the point?