Anthony Joshua surprised fans today by letting them know that he’ll be fighting for two more years or less, depending on how his body holds up. Joshua will be 37 in 2026, which isn’t long from now.
British heavyweight Joshua (28-3,25 KOs) wants to retire from the sport by 37, and he’ll be 35 in October. However, due to injuries sustained during training and grueling fights, AJ isn’t certain his body will survive the next two years.
“I’ve always said 35 – I’m 35 in October. I’m thinking another two years or so if my body holds out,” said Joshua to the JRossShow.
The Toll of Boxing
Joshua’s focus on age and body reflects his concern about the wear & tear of professional boxing, especially at the heavyweight level. The fighters are big, hit hard, and the punishment is lasting. It gets worse as a fighter age, which Joshua wants to avoid.
While AJ is still in his prime at 34, the wear and tear he’s taking in his fights and in training could catch up to him later.
Joshua has had it easy lately, fighting Francis Ngannou, Otto Wallin, Robert Helenius, and Jermaine Franklin in his last four fights. However, he’s expected to return to fighting dangerous opposition in his next fight when he faces the winner of the June 1st contest between Felip Hrgovic and Daniel Dubois.
Those guys can hit hard, and there’s no guarantee that AJ will get past either of them without suffering another knockout loss. His punishment resistance is still as vulnerable as it was when he was knocked out by Andy Ruiz Jr. in 2019 and badly hurt by Wladimir Klitschko in 2017.
What Could the Next Two Years Hold?
- The Fury Fight: AJ wants to fight Tyson Fury in the next two years, preferably this year. That match-up will make Joshua a lot of money and cement his legacy, even though the 35-year-old Fury is not the fighter that he once was.
- Calculated Risk: Joshua can last longer if he continues to face vulnerable opposition like he’s done in his last four fights since his back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk. He doesn’t wish to continue to face weak opposition and wants to take on Tyson Fury and whoever else is at the top in the next two years.
- Mentorship: Helping other younger fighters could be a path for AJ after he leaves the game.
This news of Joshua planning to retire has likely hit promoter Eddie Hearn hard, as he’s been a big reason for the success of Matchroom Boxing, bringing in tons of money and leading to an influx of talented fighters to the company.
Seeing Joshua leave will be a crushing blow to Hearn, considering he doesn’t have anyone yet to fill his shoes as the next mega-star.