…says defeat could be the end of road
Stephen Dunmoye
Anthony Joshua will return to the ring this weekend for the first time since losing back-to-back fights to Oleksandr Usyk in August.
Joshua will take on American heavyweight Jermaine Franklin as he searches for his first win since 2020 at O2 Arena in London, admitting that he will hang up his gloves if he were to lose.
According to him, “I will. I will retire if I lose. I’m not here to battle people. If people want me to retire I will retire.
“I’m not going to fight if people don’t want me too. It’s not even about the money. It’s about the competitor in you. That’s what’s important. It comes with the business and it comes with the territory, I know that.
“I know when I am retired; I am going to be chilling. I’m going to be thinking f**k everyone. I am done.
“You lot put so much pressure on me so when I am done, the chains are going to be gone. I am going to be laughing and loving life.”
Should Joshua claim victory, an all-British mega-bout with Tyson Fury could be back on the cards.
For the first time in eight years, Joshua will not fight for a world title this Saturday, April 1st.
However, Joshua has not won a fight since 2020, and had two losses on points to Usyk, who came from the lower light heavyweight division. Nevertheless, Joshua (24 wins, 3 losses) remains in the world top three behind fellow countryman Tyson Fury (WBC champion) and Usyk (holder of the WBA-WBO-IBF belts).