Retirement Could Be Imminent For Anthony Joshua

Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua was the divisions biggest name for years. Without a doubt he was the fan favorite in Great Britain. On April 29th 2017 changed everything as he was able to stop Wladimir Klitschko via TKO in the 11th round to win the vacant WBA and IBO belts in front of 90,000 plus fans in Wembley Stadium in London England. That win would catapult Joshua into superstardom.

Following the Klitschko fight, Joshua had three successful title defenses. defense #4 was against a little known fat Mexican-American with blazing hand speed for a heavyweight in Andy Ruiz. That fight seemed to be going the same as the past three fights went with Joshua cruising in that fight. Joshua would drop Ruiz and it looked like it was only a matter of time that the fight could be at its end. But Ruiz got up from the canvas and opened a can on Joshua by knocking him down twice in that round. Joshua would survive that round but in round #7 Ruiz would drop Joshua two more times before the referee called the fight. Pulling off one of the biggest upsets in heavyweight boxing history.

More adversity

Six months later the rematch would take place where the result was completely different as Joshua neutralized Ruiz and was able to reclaim his belts. Two defenses later Joshua would face the former elite cruiserweight champion Oleksander Usyk who was trying to make the rare successful jump from cruiserweight to heavyweight. Only Evander Holyfield and David Haye were able to hold titles from both divisions. Usyk would dominate that fight, controlling ever aspect of that fight as he became the third former cruiserweight champion to win a heavyweight championship. The rematch was practically a repeat of the first fight and Joshua would be faced with some serious questions about ever being a contender for another shot at the title after two straight lopsided loses to Usyk.

The future face of the UK?

Since losing the rematch to Usyk, Joshua has won 4 straight fights and will be fighting fellow countrymen WBA champion Daniel Dubois in a expected record crowd of 96,000 on Saturday September 21st at Wembley Stadium in London, England. Dubois dropped Usyk with a body shot that landed right on the beltline that was called a low blow. That would change the whole fight as Usyk was able to recover and regained control of the fight before eventually stopping Dubois in the 9th round. The younger fighter is a very dangerous opponent and is looking to establish himself as the new face of British boxers. Defeating Joshua will make that closer to a reality.