Anthony Joshua has 'two fights, three fights to the maximum' before retirement, according to promoter Eddie Hearn.
The Chief of Matchroom Hearn spoke passionately about his client for a long time during an interview with Talksport on Thursday.
Joshua, 35, won the first 22 fights of his professional career, before losing his heavyweight titles of the AMB, IBF and WBO in a surprise of Andy Ruiz Junior in January 2019.
The fighter born in Watford recovered by beating Ruiz in a rematch six months later, but since then he has lost twice against Oleksandr Ussyk, before being knocked out by Daniel Dubois in his most recent fight in September last year.
Joshua won four fights against the relatively easier opposition between his rematch of the revenge for Usyk and the defeat last year against Dubois.
However, Hearn has made it clear that AJ wants to assume the largest and greatest of the heavyweight division before hanging his gloves.
Matchroom Chief Eddie Hearn (in the photo) passionately spoke about Anthony Joshua this week
Hearn and matchroom have promoted all the professional fights of Joshua since their first in 2013
“The plan and objective of Anthony Joshua, always, from now on until the moment he retires, is trying to win the World Heavyweight Championship,” Hearn explained. 'Try to become three times world heavyweight champion.
'Then, of course, the other fight, which we know is not available at this time, is Tyson Fury, wanted that fight. But, if you told AJ, “What do you want to do the most?” He would say: “I want to fight against the winner of Dubois/Parker. I want another opportunity for a world heavyweight title.”
'That is natural. You know, you have (Martin) Bakole, you have (Deontay) Wilder, you have the winner of (Agit) Kabayel against (Zhilei) Zhang. They are all possible fights, but, you know, you keep listening: “Oh, AJ will not fight with this guy, he will not fight that guy.” Come on, look at his curriculum.
'Like, when he fit Oleksandr Ussyk, he gave Ushk the opportunity of the World Heavyweight Championship. And everyone told me: “Oh, don't fight Usyk, don't fight Usyk.” It is never my saying. AJ wants to fight the best, he wants to challenge himself and wants to try to become indisputable, so he had to take care of his mandatory.
'He gave Ussyk the opportunity in the kingdom. And he beat AJ, and then everyone was: “Do what you do, don't repair Usyk.” And Usyk stirred. You know, when Andy Ruiz stopped him, they all said: “Whoa, his trust shoots in pieces, do not return to Andy Ruiz.” He returned directly with Andy Ruiz.
'There is no doubt in AJ's mind about who he is fighting with, and he will go back in the ring with Dubois at any time, because he wants gold, and we probably only have another year left. Two fights, three fights to the fullest.
“So, at this stage, it's not like,” Oh, how do we have an easy fight to finish a race? “It's like, sorry for my Frenchman, I won't say the word, but it's like (s ***) or bust.
'Know? It is as if we have nothing to keep, we have nothing to worry about, we have nothing to hold on. We have nothing, apart from the greatest attraction of the division.
Joshua has won 28 of his 32 professional fights, but Daniel Dubois knocked out last year
The possible fight that would generate the greatest interest among British fans is, without a doubt, Joshua vs Fury.
But fury announced his retirement last month with immediate effect on the heels of his second defeat by USYK in December last year.
“Hello everyone, I'm going to do this short and sweet,” Fury said in a clip he shared on social networks.
'I would like to announce my boxing retirement. It has been wonderful, I loved every minute.
'I'm going to end this … Dick Turpin wore a mask. God bless everyone, see you on the other side. Get up!'
The January video marked the fifth time Fury retired from boxing, with four returns to competition so far.
Then, for fans with the hope of the totally British clash, the two combatants have been arguing for several years, there may still be light at the end of the tunnel.
In fact, it is rumored that Fury is considering getting out of retirement to finally fight Joshua.