Anthony Joshua appears to be heading towards his ‘Last Dance’ as a heavyweight boxer.
The British superstar – now 35 years old – has done it all in boxing’s marquee weight class, becoming world heavyweight champion on two separate occasions.
But it appears AJ (28-4) is now heading into the championship rounds of a glittering career which has seen him fill arenas the world over – notably London’s iconic Wembley Stadium.
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Joshua is currently recovering from elbow surgery and is set to return to action later this year – he has not been in the ring since a devastating defeat by Daniel Dubois at Wembley last September. He was knocked out inside five rounds as he failed in his bid to join the select band of three-time world heavyweight champions.
Promoter Eddie Hearn has masterminded Joshua’s professional career right from the start, when he turned over following his Olympic Games gold medal at London 2012. And he admits the clock is ticking for his stable star.
Hearn on Joshua retirement
“Probably 2026 will be his last year in the sport,” he revealed on The Ariel Helwani Show.
“I mean you never know, but thinking about it, it’s probably three fights away. If I’m advising AJ I’m thinking, ‘We’re back this year, two Tyson Fury fights, what else is there to do?’.
“He maybe could fight a Daniel Dubois, but I think for me, once AJ fights a Tyson Fury, he’s kind of done it all.”
While right now Hearn favours 2026 being Joshua’s last year as a professional boxer, he does have one important caveat.
“I’d love him to have another crack at Dubois, I’d love him to have another crack at Usyk. If we get to 2026 and he’s firing on all cylinders then 2026 won’t be his last year.
“But for me, something feels right about beating Tyson Fury twice and then sailing off into the sunset.”
