Anthony Joshua has reacted to the suggestion that he should retire if he suffers yet another defeat this weekend.
The 32-year-old is looking to become a three-time world heavyweight champion on Saturday.
Joshua (24-2, 22 KOs) meets Oleksandr Usyk as he aims to regain the WBA Super, IBF and WBO titles at the Jeddah Superdome.
Beating in the Desert Wasn’t an Option for 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist, but Johnny Nelson Said ‘AJ’ Could Follow WBC champion Tyson Fury retires if he goes the wrong way against the undisputed former cruiser champion of Ukraine.
When talk to Sky Sports during the battle week, Nelson commented:
“If Usyk beats him, I think he’ll walk away.”
“With this war here, it is very important to [Joshua’s] career, because he knows this could be the last big battle he’s in. “
“Standing back and being a gatekeeper for anyone is not in his DNA.”
Joshua has tasted defeat before, not only losing to Usyk but also in a shock against Andy Ruiz Jr, a Mexican living in California in June 2019. He was dropped four times and stopped in seven laps at Madison Square Garden in New York before taking it back. belts at Diriyah Gymnasium in Saudi Arabia.
And he’s relatively diplomatic in thinking it’s time for him to quit the sport if he doesn’t raise his hand this weekend.
In group chat on media Joshua says:
“What he [Nelson] sort of saying it was a big night. “
“He just showed the importance of the fight and said it was a must-win because I didn’t want to walk away.”
And Joshua promoter Eddie Hearn believes the angle Nelson has dropped is entirely due to the boxer’s recent loyalty to his longtime fight broadcaster.
“I think, if ‘AJ’ is signed with Sky [Sports]he [Johnny Nelson] want him to fight for another 5 years. “
The fight against Usyk will make more sense now that the foregoing Fury’s recently relinquished Ring Magazine title will also be threatened in an empty slot.
