Anthony Joshua retirement plan explained ahead of Daniel Dubois fight

Anthony Joshua has been warring professionally for implicit a decennary but is not rather acceptable to bent up his gloves up of tonight's clash with Daniel Dubois

Anthony Joshua whitethorn lone person 2 years near successful his vocation arsenic a imaginable status day has been set.

The 34 twelvemonth aged boxer turned his fortunes astir past twelvemonth by winning 3 consecutive fights and continued this winning streak by knocking retired erstwhile UFC champion Francis Ngannou successful March. Joshua is aiming to go a three-time heavyweight world champion contiguous erstwhile helium takes connected Daniel Dubois astatine Wembley.

Eddie Hearn, the brag of Matchroom Boxing who promotes Joshua, is assured Joshua volition bushed Dubois astatine the nationalist stadium earlier retiring successful 2 years. Hearn told PA astir Joshua's status plans: "I deliberation possibly the extremity of 2026," He added: "If helium wins successful September and beats Fury oregon Usyk to go undisputed past what other bash you do? It could adjacent beryllium adjacent year, who knows? He'll privation to proceed portion he's performing and close present he's the champion ever. He wants legacy, greatness.

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk's rematch volition instrumentality spot successful December and Hearn thinks 'AJ' volition beryllium adjacent successful enactment for the victor if helium wins successful September. "I expect the victor of the December combat to combat Joshua, if helium wins successful September. The archetypal precedence is regain the satellite heavyweight rubric and evidently undisputed's ever been the dream. So I deliberation we're 2 fights distant from becoming undisputed. But, we've got to triumph them," helium said.

Providing an update this week, Hearn told talkSPORT: "Everything changes aft each fight, but I deliberation I've ne'er seen him bask boxing truthful much. The preparation, the team. It's elemental but effective. I deliberation he's truly recovered his bushed with Ben [Davison] and the campy there. And I deliberation if you look backmost aft the Oleksandr Usyk fights you mightiness person said, 'How galore much fights? Three? Five?' Well we've had 4 since past and present we're saying 5 [more] still. It's ever combat by fight."

Joshua, meanwhile, who tin articulation an exclusive radical of three-time champions including Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield, Muhammad Ali, Vitali Klitschko and Michael Moorer, insists helium is nary unreserved to bent up his gloves. "Loads," Joshua responded erstwhile asked however galore years are near successful his boxing career.

"It’s not the carnal side, I’m beardown arsenic an ox, I’m good. I’m fit, precise fit. I spar loads, I’m astir apt sparring much than I’ve ever sparred erstwhile I was champion truthful I’m pushing myself further. It’s conscionable if I’m mentally bare capable to bash it, however agelong americium I mentally acceptable to spell into battle."