Anthony Joshua has warned that he will retire from boxing if he is defeated by American heavyweight Jermaine Franklin. The bout is set for Saturday, April 1, at the O₂ Arena in Greenwich, London. Joshua, a two‑time former unified world heavyweight champion, was previously scheduled to fight Tyson Fury, but that match fell through because of sponsorship issues. He sees the upcoming fight as a chance to regain his form after losing to Oleksandr Usyk in August 2022.
“I will retire if I lose,” Joshua said. “I’m not here to battle people. If people want me to retire, I will retire. 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.”
Joshua also noted that the fight should be an opportunity for Franklin. “You’ve got Jermaine Franklin here, who is about 28 pounds lighter than he was against Dillian Whyte. He’s now got a six‑pack, and this is what happens when you’re fighting Anthony Joshua. It’s a chance for him to catapult himself into the world of the heavyweight division.”
Looking ahead to life after boxing, Joshua said he plans to enjoy a relaxed, happy existence once his career ends. “I know when I am retired, I’m going to be chilling. You lot put so much pressure on me, so when I’m done the chains are going to be gone. I am going to be laughing and loving life.”
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