Nigerian-British boxer, Anthony Joshua is looking ahead of the new season following a ‘not too good’ 2022 where he suffered double defeats in the hands of Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk, showed two coaches the exit door and failed to secure a unification bout with Tyson Fury’s camp, the new year is a defining moment for him in his bid to regain his dominance.
Regardless of the back to back defeats to Usyk, AJ still remains one of Britain’s most prevalent sport stars with his line of partnerships with Hugo Boss, Under Armour, advert posters difficult to overlook but it’s been two years since he last won a fight, an unfortunate statistic he’s desperate to turn around.
To put it in context, Joshua’s last taste of victory came only four days after the UK administered its first Covid vaccine, a feat that feels a lifetime ago and gas since then lost to Usyk twice, sacked two coaches, entered negotiations to fight Fury but didn’t materialize.
Just 24 months after Joshua put in perhaps a career-best performance against Pulev, adding some spite back to his newfound boxer-mover style, Joshua now looks more lost than ever. No belts, no coach (that we know of), and no concrete opponent in place.
Most notably, his multi-year, mega-money deal with DAZN announced this summer – in which Joshua was supposed to fight twice a year hasn’t quite come to fruition, with the 33-year-old, for a second year running, getting out only once.
It’s not yet over still, while it all sounds a bit doom and gloom, that’s not what this piece is. This is, rather, a look forward to what could be, and what has to be, the most important year of Joshua’s career.
One thing to immediately highlight is that Joshua is not ‘washed’ or ‘finished’ or ‘broken’ – or any of the other slights the twice unified heavyweight world champion has received in recent months.
In fact, the Olympic gold medalist, who has risen the profile of British boxing tenfold sine turning pro in 2013, put in one of his best performances in his rematch defeat to Usyk.
Joshua has also said he now wants to be a ‘free spirit’, insisting he’s in a position where he can ‘work with anyone’. But having recently admitted he’s coming to the end of his career, now is arguably not the time to start experimenting.
No opponent is confirmed but his promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed Anthony Joshua will be out next spring at the O2 Arena. He also assured it will be against a legitimate opponent.
Among the possibilities are Dillian Whyte, Otto Wallin, Zhang Zhilei and Filip Hrgovic – all match-ups Joshua would be expected to win. All match-ups which would probably spell the end if he lost. And all match-ups which would probably be good for Joshua.
Simply put, after two years without one, Joshua needs a win. Without his titles, without the immense amount of pressure on his shoulders, and without that undisputed bout being forever just one fight away, Joshua might just rediscover his mojo.
And if he does, a massive 2023 could lie ahead. Whether that’s a warm up fight, then Whyte and then possibly Wilder, or even two warm-ups and Whyte, remaining unbeaten over the next year would put him right in the mix for 2024.
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