ANTHONY JOSHUA could hang up his gloves within the next “YEAR”, promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed.
AJ’s faint hopes of becoming undisputed heavyweight champion were viciously shattered in September in his Wembley war with Daniel Dubois for the IBF strap.
REUTERSAnthony Joshua’s career is on a knife edge following his crushing loss to Daniel Dubois[/caption]
GETTYAJ was knocked out in the fifth round of the Wembley war for the IBF heavyweight title[/caption]
PAJoshua shrugged off talk of retirement in the aftermath of the devastating defeat[/caption]
REUTERSBut promoter Eddie Hearn admits the fan favourite could call it quits in the next 12 months[/caption]
The Watford warrior, 35, immediately dismissed calls for him to retire, insisting he’ll “keep rolling the dice” in his bid to hold all the heavyweight marbles.
But Matchroom boxing chief and long-time pal Hearn reckons the London 2012 gold medallist could soon call it a day.
He told The Times: “This could be [Joshua’s] last year in the sport.”
AJ was on course for a do-or-die rematch with Dubois on February 22 before his team advised him not to push through niggling injuries.
He’s champing at the bit to exact his revenge but Hearn insists they won’t plot his move until after next month’s unified heavyweight title rematch between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.
He told DAZN: “It could be the Dubois rematch but it won’t be on February 22nd.”
”I think we have to see how December 21st unfolds (Usyk-Fury II) and then make a decision after that.
”Expect to see AJ in a ring next May or June.”
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How AJ punched his way to the top
ANTHONY JOSHUA punched his way to the top of the world before being knocked off his perch.
From humble origins in Watford to Olympic hero, the boxer has made a heavyweight impact in and out of the ring.
Eddie Hearn claims a collision with rival Tyson Fury could be worth a whopping £200million.
The pair’s bitter feud saw them refuse to say a word to each other as they met Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia.
Joshua has already hinted at when he will hang up his gloves.
And he revealed why his son will NEVER be allowed to box. despite amassing a £215m empire thanks to the sweet science.
AJ enjoys a lavish lifestyle including private jets and a £350k watch.
His career and sponsorship deals have seen him swap his council estate upbringing for a luxury car collection.
London hairdresser Kika Osunde is believed to have swept the KO king off his feet.
But Joshua still lives with his mum Yeta when he is not on the road.
Check out all our latest Anthony Joshua articles.
A historic domestic dust-up between Joshua and Fury has twice been on the brink of coming to fruition.
And Hearn doesn’t want to jeopardise the biggest fight in the history of British boxing by jumping the gun and pitting AJ against Dubois again.
“It would be frustrating if we made the Dubois rematch and Fury won,” he said.
“Then we’re sitting there going, ‘Hang on a minute, we’re fighting Dubois.
“‘But we could have fought Fury in May for the biggest fight in boxing.’
“Win or lose, we can fight Fury next summer. But if he wins, AJ fights him for the world title.”
PAEddie Hearn is still holding out hope for a blockbuster bout between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois[/caption]