Hearn Speaks On the Time Anthony Joshua Has Left in Boxing
Time waits for no one, including the fighting career of two-time unified world heavyweight champion Anthony “AJ” Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs). Given that harsh reality, his promoter, Eddie Hearn, wants AJ to accomplish all he can before he eventually decides to part ways with the sport.
Joshua will turn 35 this October. During an upcoming episode of the English podcast The Jonathan Ross Show, the two-time champion said he wants to fight another two years before calling it a day, provided his body can hold up.
NOT MUCH TIME TO SPARE
Those comments have become a topic of discussion from the boxing community on social media and various message boards. Hearn gave his take during an exclusive interview with the British media outlet Boxing Social.
“They always ask, ‘how long do you have left? How long do you want to keep going?’ The answer is that I think he’s in the form of his life. I think he’s physically and mentally the best that he’s ever been.
But, Father Time catches up with you at some point. No signs of that yet on any level . . . While you’re loving what you do, while you’re physically able, while you’re mentally in a great place, you carry on going.”
Hearn said that Joshua still desires to fight the best in the division. That includes top contender Filip Hrgovic, a rematch with former WBO champion Joseph Parker, and the winner or loser of the upcoming clash between unified champion Oleksandr Usyk and WBC titleholder Tyson Fury.
In December 2023, Joshua looked terrific while scoring a fifth-round stoppage over Otto Wallin. AJ followed up that performance with a second-round knockout over MMA star Francis Ngannou. The past twelve months suggest the former world champion is fighting better than he has in several years.
But the native of Watford, England is not the young darling of the sport anymore. Joshua knows more than anyone how much he has left in the tank. The big man from Great Britain is a fighter coming to grips with his ring mortality. Hearn and AJ want to squeeze all the blood out of the turnip and strike while it’s hot before the fighter hangs up the gloves.
