Why I Might Not Become Heavyweight Champion Till Next Six Years – Anthony Joshua

 

Former heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, has candidly shared his realization that becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion might not happen within the timeline he originally envisioned, stating it’s “not in my time frame.”

As the 34-year-old gears up for a significant match against Otto Wallin on December 23, featuring Deontay Wilder vs. Joseph Parker, Joshua reflects on his recent victories over Robert Helenius and Jermaine Franklin Jr. He also expresses a desire to face Francis Ngannou or potentially Wilder in 2024.

Despite these ambitions, Joshua acknowledges the slim likelihood of regaining the undisputed heavyweight champion title, particularly after losing his WBO, WBA, IBO, and IBF titles to Oleksandr Usyk in 2020. He suggests that the journey to reclaim those belts may extend over the next six years.

In an interview with TNT Sports, when asked if he still envisions battling for the undisputed title, Joshua responds, “I used to, but it won’t happen anymore. I feel it will probably take me about five to six years to go through and get all the belts and beat all the independent champions, and that will probably take me until I’m 40 or 41 before I do that again. So I’m just like, it’s probably not in my time frame.”

After consecutive losses to Usyk in August, Joshua, in a post-fight press conference, expressed deep dissatisfaction with his performance, stating, “It’s really, extremely hard for me to say I’m proud of myself. I just feel angry, I don’t feel anything. Deep, down in my heart.”