Anthony Joshua confirms retirement plans as he prepares for Tyson Fury showdown
Anthony Joshua has admitted he’s “coming towards” the end of his career, having spent eight years as a professional boxer.
AJ turned pro after winning gold at the 2012 London Olympics and has gone on to become two-time heavyweight champion of the world.
He is expected to take on fellow Brit Tyson Fury in an undisputed clash at some point this year.
Though Joshua knows that he is into the second half of his career, believing he will be nearing the end in just five years.
"This isn't the start of my career. I'm coming towards the end of my career," he told Sky Sports.
"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."
At 31, Joshua is just a year younger than Fury, though the Gypsy King has five more years of professional boxing under his belt.
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"Fury has been professional much longer than me. He should be looking to retire soon," Joshua had said.
"If he wants to cement his legacy, I'm here and ready. I've built myself into this position."
Though Fury has no plans to hang up his gloves, saying: “[Wladimir] Klitschko did it until he was 40.
"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.
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"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."
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