World heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is approaching an important phase of his career with two massive unification fights against Tyson Fury in the pipeline this year but he has admitted that he is probably approaching the end of his career at the same time.
“This isn’t the start of my career. I’m coming towards the end of my career,” Joshua told Sky Sports News.
“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.”
The 31-year-old became a pro in 2013 and went on to become a two-time champion. He regained his WBA, IBF and WBO titles in a 2019 rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr. He defended them with a KO win over Kubrat Pulev last month.
Recently, Fury also suggested that time has come for Joshua to hang up his gloves. Incidentally, Fury turned professional five years before Joshua in 2008.
“Fury has been professional much longer than me. He should be looking to retire soon,” Joshua had told Sky Sports.
“If he wants to cement his legacy, I’m here and ready. I’ve built myself into this position.”
However, Fury had told Sky Sports last year that he wanted a long lasting World Title reign like Wladimir Klitschko.
“Klitschko did it until he was 40,” said Fury who ended the Ukrainian’s supremacy in 2015 with a points win.
“A lot of the great champions are continuing, and continuing. I ain’t boxing for money, I ain’t boxing for fame, I ain’t boxing for a belt. I’m boxing because it keeps me mentally happy and I like to do it.
“Nothing to prove to anybody. Not one thing to prove at all, but I box now, because I love boxing and I’ve been doing it all my life. Why walk away when I’m still only young?
“Hopefully I box until I have a good sit down with all the team and we all decide it’s time to walk away, while I’m on top, and then sail away into the sunset, and then who knows what will happen after that.”
