Hearn Reveals All On Joshua’s Retirement Plan – ‘He’s Not Going To Be Around Forever’
Eddie Hearn opened up on Anthony Joshua’s future as the British boxer plans the final stages of his career.
Joshua is a two-time Unified Heavyweight Champion and an Olympic gold medalist. However, his career has divided the fanbase. He was on the cusp of being undisputed, only for talks with Deontay Wilder to break down. Both men would lose their belts as the chance was gone. Joshua’s first loss was against Andy Ruiz Jr., where he was stopped on his American debut. Although Joshua won the rematch, it showed a chink in his armour.
Further losses followed against Oleksandr Usyk on two occasions. Joshua infamously threw his belts once he lost them to Usyk. But since teaming up with Ben Davidson, Joshua looks a different fighter. He stopped Otto Wallin and Francis Ngannou as he looked at his older self.
Hearn Reacts
AJ will now box Daniel Dubois, who holds the IBF Heavyweight Title once Usyk vacated on September 21. A win makes Joshua a three-time heavyweight champion. He will also become mandatory for the winner of Usyk and Tyson Fury, who rematch on December 21, thus giving him a shot at undisputed. Hearn set out Joshua’s plans moving forward.
“AJ would fight anybody. He would be happy to fight Ruiz again. He’s not going to be around forever. Three more, four more, five more, or six more. AJ would fight anybody. He would be happy to fight Ruiz again. He’s not going to be around forever. Three more, four more, five more, or six more. The main plan is to beat Daniel Dubois on September 21st and then fight for the undisputed against the Usyk-Fury winner,” Hearn said
The major question mark hanging over Joshua is his legacy. Despite being a former Unified Heavyweight Champion, he has not beaten an elite boxer in their prime. The win over Wladimir Klitschko was when the Ukrainian was at the latter end of his career. He was never the same fighter once Fury had beaten him. And yet, Joshua had to get off the canvas to win the bout as he could have been stopped.
Joshua’s Future
When it came to Usyk, Joshua was comprehensively beaten by someone moving up from cruiserweight. He can redeem himself with wins over Uysk and Fury, provided that those fights are made. Carl Froch has been vocal about Joshua’s legacy, as he referred to him as quitting against Ruiz.
But Joshua should be credited with bringing the heavyweight division back to its best in the UK. His Olympic performances showed that, as did his early rise to winning his first world title against Charles Martin for the IBF Heavyweight Belt. Hearn hoped Joshua could end his career on a high.
“No, I don’t think he [Joshua] has four or five more years in him, but who knows? He’s in the best shape of his life, loves his boxing, and is very happy. So, while that is the case, carry on going. Part of me would like to see AJ beat Daniel Dubois and then fight the winner, Usyk-Fury, twice. If you won those, imagine winning those and then calling it. That would be unbelievable,” Hearn added
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