Joshua says boxing is once again his only priority after admitting outside ventures pulled his attention away from the sport ahead of his July 25 return
Anthony Joshua says he has shut down his outside business ventures because they were taking his focus away from boxing. The former heavyweight champion believes giving the sport his complete attention offers the best chance of winning another world title.
Preparing for his July 25 return against Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia, Joshua explained that boxing has once again become his sole priority after deciding to eliminate everything that competed for his focus.
“We’ve shut down all the businesses,” Joshua said during a DAZN interview with promoter Eddie Hearn. “The number one performing business is boxing and that’s where I want to put all my energy and focus. I want to regain the championship and be the world heavyweight champion once again.
“I’m a normal lad giving 100 percent while I can. I’m a fighter through and through and I believe in myself.”
Joshua became one of boxing’s biggest commercial stars after winning the heavyweight title, expanding into several business ventures outside the ring.
Reflecting on that period, Joshua acknowledged that his attention had drifted.
“My attention, I now admit, was being dragged away from the sport,” he said.
Joshua never explicitly linked those outside commitments to his two defeats against Usyk, but his admission comes after the losses that ended his reign as unified heavyweight champion.
Joshua, 29-4 (26 KOs), is widely expected to defeat Prenga before pursuing a long-discussed showdown with fellow British heavyweight Tyson Fury later this year. At 36 years old, he insists his only objective now is reclaiming the heavyweight championship, believing complete dedication to boxing gives him the best chance of returning to the top of the division.
