Ahead of April’s bout: Joshua hints at retirement News

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Ahead of April’s bout: Joshua hints at retirement

By Daily Sports Nigeria on February 16, 2023

ANTHONY JOSHUA has hinted retirement could soon be on the cards as he wants to enjoy life while he’s still young.

At the age of 33, AJ has already twice climbed the heavyweight mountain and banked millions of pounds.

The Watford warrior has aspirations of becoming a three-time heavyweight champion and undisputed ruler of the division, although he doesn’t want his love of the fight game to rule his life forever.

He told Sky Sports: “I just want to have time to still live and have fun.

“As an athlete, we try and have fun.

“But even when you’re out you’re still thinking about when you sleep, what you’re eating, you’ve got to drink water, so you’ve always got things playing on the back of your mind.

“So I want to be young enough to just be free.”

Joshua, however, won’t be hanging up his gloves anytime soon, despite wanting to enjoy life’s pleasures before it’s too late.

He continued: “I think people fear the unknown.

“So when I decided to become a fighter it’s what I dedicated my life to.

“I don’t know anything else. Because this is the first career I really had and chose to dedicate my life to.

“So, for me to step into a different career, retirement for example, it’s the unknown. So, who knows what that looks like.

“For a certain amount of time I want to give my life and energy to fighting and I haven’t hit that time yet.

“So, I’m just going to continue working towards that.”

Joshua will hit the comeback trail – which he hopes will be a road back to world title contention – in April with a must-win showdown against Jermaine Franklin at the O2.

The fight will be his first since consecutive defeats to pound-for-pound king Oleksandr Usyk, who is currently on course for a historic undisputed heavyweight title fight with Tyson Fury.

The Brit said: “I’m looking forward to stepping back into the ring on April 1 at The O2 in London. Mentally and physically I feel ready..

New head coach Derrick James will be the lead cornerman for Joshua’s first for his first outing at the O2 in six-and-a-half years.

AJ added: “I want to put on a show and impress my coach as he has high standards.

“Franklin has a good style and a great attitude, which he has shown in recent fights.”

Source Sporting Sun

Posted February 16, 2023