Jonathan Bead
Anthony Joshua Vows Retirement if he Loses to Jermaine Franklin at O2 Arena
Anthony Joshua, the two-time heavy weight world champion, is making his comeback this weekend at O2 Arena following successive losses to Oleksandr Usyk. Joshua has stated that he will retire from boxing if he experiences a third defeat against the American heavyweight.
If you want me to retire, I will. I’m not here to battle people
For Joshua, winning his first professional fight since December 2020 is of paramount importance. However, he has admitted the possibility of stepping away from boxing if he faces a third loss. When speaking with MailOnline, Joshua shared, “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.
While Joshua is familiar with the pressures that accompany a fight, sparring partner Lawrence Okolie believes he can handle the situation. Having known Joshua personally for a lengthy period and their previous training sessions together, Okolie believes Joshua can feel the pressure and stay focused. Speaking with Sky Sports News, Okolie has claimed that Joshua is in excellent spirits and is feeling fit and healthy.
Johnny Nelson, a former WBO cruiserweight champion, expects Joshua to triumph over Franklin, but he has stressed that the stakes are high. In the event Joshua loses, Nelson recommends he retire from professional boxing as it’s a challenging mountain to climb. Nonetheless, he acknowledges the importance of winning and building confidence. “He’s had to relook at his confidence to think ‘who am I, do I belong here, do I want this?’ For Anthony Joshua, that’s everything. Because he’s had to go through a bit of turmoil, mentally, emotionally and come to terms with the fact that he’s no longer the best fighter, officially, in the world” Nelson said in an interview with Sky Sports News.
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