Joshua motivated to continue boxing, says Hearn News

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Joshua motivated to continue boxing, says Hearn

By Daily Sports Nigeria on July 22, 2026

Anthony Joshua is motivated to extend his boxing career beyond earlier retirement plans, according to Matchroom chairman Barry Hearn, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Eleven months after Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn suggested that 2026 would likely be Joshua’s final year in the sport, the former two-time heavyweight champion is now considering fighting for another three years.

Joshua’s outlook changed following a difficult period that included a tragic car accident in Nigeria, which claimed the lives of two of his close friends and left him with minor injuries. The Briton returned to action after mourning and recovery, and is now on course for a long-awaited showdown with Tyson Fury.

The 36-year-old knocked out YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in December and had been scheduled to face kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven in February before the accident forced a postponement.

Joshua is now set to face little-known Albanian Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, one day after Fury takes on experienced Polish heavyweight Mariusz Wach in Thailand. If both fighters emerge victorious and injury-free, organisers are targeting a domestic blockbuster between Joshua and Fury in November.

Despite speculation that the Fury bout could mark Joshua’s farewell fight, Barry Hearn insists the former world champion has rediscovered his long-term ambition.

“Anthony Joshua is in an amazing place at the moment,” Hearn told Sky Sports.

“Obviously I’ve seen him since 2012, we got very close. He’s like a member of our family really.

“I don’t think I’ve seen him so motivated for the long term.

“As I say, some of that has been fuelled by that tragic accident, but he’s now talking about the next three years in the ring.

“It was a year ago we were talking about potentially two fights and then go off to a happy retirement.

“He’s very motivated, he feels good about himself, but boxing is a funny sport. It takes one decent punch from a big lad to knock out anyone in the world.”

If Joshua follows through with his new plan, he would continue boxing until around the age of 39.

Source Punch Ng

Posted July 22, 2026