Anthony Joshua Will ‘Probably' Retire In 2026; Is He Overrated?

Eddie Hearn expects Anthony Joshua to retire next year as we look at his legacy. 

Joshua has been credited with bringing back big-time boxing to the UK, which has made him one of the most lucrative boxers in the sport. He has come a long way since his major breakthrough at the London 2012 Olympics. Joshua won the gold medal in the super heavyweight division, beating Roberto Cammarelle in the final. He also secured a 2011 AIBA World Boxing Championships silver medal in the same weight class, as the amateur foundation landed him a pro career. 

His Career

Joshua would go on to become a two-time Unified World Heavyweight Champion, holding the IBF, WBA (Super), IBO, and WBO titles on two separate occasions. He won his first world title by stopping Charles Martin to win the IBF Heavyweight Title in 2016 in just his 16th fight. That was followed by his biggest win, stopping Wladimir Klitschko to unify the IBF, WBA (Super), and IBO Heavyweight Titles in 2017.

Joshua had to get off the canvas to get the stoppage, showing he could cut it at the elite level. Joshua also beat Joseph Parker to unify the IBF, WBA (Super), IBO, and WBO Heavyweight Titles in 2018. His other notable wins were against Dillian Whyte, Alexander Povetkin and Kubrat Pulev. However, things started to turn when he suffered a shock stoppage loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. in 2019.

His Future

Joshua avenged the loss, but many felt he was no longer the same fighter. Joshua changed trainers on numerous occasions, leaving Robert McCracken for Robert Garcia, Derrick James and now Ben Davidson. AJ is coming off a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in his last fight, after which he underwent elbow surgery. With Joshua likely to retire next year, fans had plenty to say over AJ’s career.

"AJ will have been out of the ring just over a year by the time he steps back into the ring. He’ll be coming off surgery. I don’t think Tyson Fury will be ready to fight around that time. I imagine it will be someone who gears him up for a really big fight in 2026. 2026 will probably be his last year in the sport. Thinking about it [retirement], it’s probably three fights away," Hearn said

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