Anthony Joshua details retirement plan that will see him walk away in two years as he makes U-turn on initial plan

Anthony Joshua plans to hang up his gloves in just two years.

The two-time world heavyweight champion, who is currently in the midst of a career resurgence, is 34 years old and is therefore known to be entering the final stages of his boxing journey.

However, the prospect of AJ leaving boxing for good will still surprise many British boxing fans, who have been waiting for a showdown between him and Tyson Fury for several years.

In fact, Joshua explained that his original plan was to retire when he turns 35 in October this year.

But now he hopes to continue fighting for a few more years.

“I always said 35,” AJ said on this week’s Jonathan Ross show, which airs on ITV on Saturday night.

“I’m 35 in October, I think another two years or so if my body holds up.

“I’ve created some businesses that I can grow into naturally and that don’t depend on me being at the forefront.”

Joshua knocked out Francis Ngannou in March to claim a fourth straight victory in the space of 12 months.

These recent triumphs follow his devastating defeats to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and 2022 – where he lost his belts then failed to win them back – and saw him return to the top of the heavyweight division once again. more.

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In his next fight, AJ is expected to either face the winner of Fury vs. Usyk – who will meet for the undisputed crown on May 18 – or compete for a belt that the winner should be forced to relinquish after that fight.

Since Fury and Usyk have a guaranteed rematch clause, the winner of their first fight will not be able to satisfy the IBF’s mandatory requirement to fight Filip Hrgovic.

Therefore, Hrgovic will likely face Joshua or Daniel Dubois for the vacant IBF world heavyweight title.

If it is indeed Hrgovic versus Dubois, it would take place in the upcoming 5v5 event between Frank Warren’s Queensberry and Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom on June 1, starting the winner to then face Joshua later This year.

AJ concluded by giving an update on his upcoming fight, indicating that this could indeed be the scenario.

“It was around September that I was told,” he said, revealing the target date, “I was hoping for June.

“I have time to go on dates now and mingle a little.

“I’m training right now, I have two months before I go into training camp.”

Joshua burst onto the international scene at the 2012 Olympics where he won a gold medal and turned professional a year later, making his debut against Emanuele Leo at the 02s.

He won his first world title in 2016 by defeating Charles Martin and didn’t lose until Andy Ruiz stunned the world by knocking him out in New York in 2019.

He avenged that defeat and regained his belts in the same year, beat Kubrat Pulev in 2020 and was beaten again, this time by Usyk in 2021. Since his second loss to champion Usyk, he has won four fights in a row, including the most recent. being against Ngannou.

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