‘I’ll retire if I lose’ – Joshua makes big statement ahead of next bout

Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has made a bold statement ahead of his next bout against Jermaine Franklin.

The two-time British boxer of Nigerian descent is scheduled to lock horns with the American heavyweight boxer in his bid to get his career back on track.

AJ, 33, suffered a disappointing back-to-back defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in September 2021 and August 2022 – losing the WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO titles to the Ukrainian.

The upcoming fight is an opportunity for Joshua to reset his career, however, the British boxer has said he will call time on his boxing career if he loses against Jermaine Franklin.

“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 to.

“It’s not even about the money. It’s about the competitor in you. That’s what’s important,” he said.

AJ added that retirement will be a good time for him to have fun and relieve all the pressure the sport brings.

“I know when I am retired, I am gonna be chilling.

“‘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,” he said.

The bout will hold on Saturday, April 1 at O2 Arena in Greenwich, London.