Nigerian-born world boxing heavyweight champion, Anthony Olaseni Oluwafemi Joshua has come out with a stunning hint that he could decide to hang his gloves earlier than expected, as he reckoned that he is not as a young as he would have wanted to be, megasportsarena.com reports.
Taking a look back at his professional career in the roped square, which came to fruition after he won gold at London 2021 Olympic Games, Joshua admitted he cannot keep going full blast as he would want to and conceded that he could be coming towards the end of his career, with what he believes remains a maximum of five years left for him before retiring.
The 31-year-old world heavyweight champion could be approaching the most significant period of his career before the half of this year, with ongoing negotiations about two unification fights against fellow-British pugilist, Tyson Fury, who turned professional in 2008.
That nearly five years before Joshua, but ‘AJ’ hinted that he is not ready to last as long as his British rival, and recently suggested that ‘The Gypsy King’ should also be thinking about hanging up his gloves, especially now that he is 32 years old.
With Joshua having become a two-time champion since making his pro debut in 2013, as he regained his World Boxing Association (WBA), International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Organisation (WBO) titles in a 2019 rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr, before further defending them with a knockout win over Kubrat Pulev last month.
However, while many observers would consider him still strong and healthy enough to continue going for another ten years, Joshua thinks otherwise, as the three-belt champ, whose father is from Shagamu in Ogun State, insists he is facing the reality of his long-term future.
Joshua told Sky Sports News: “This isn’t the start of my career. I’m coming towards the end of my career. I’m not someone who lives in the moment and thinks that everything is just like for now. I’m always planning ahead so I’m coming towards the end of my career.
“Five years left and that’s basically an Olympic cycle. I’ve got an Olympic cycle and a little bit more left, so when you see the next Olympics happen is when I’ll be coming to the end of my career and the next generation will be coming through.”
