Anthony Joshua is on the verge of retirement if he loses: Haya

 Anthony Joshua could  retire if he loses to Usyk again. Remember that the British professional boxer is a two-time former unified world heavyweight champion, having held the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO titles twice between 2016 and 2021. He has an impressive professional record of 24-2 but he is no longer the IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight champion of the world.

Anthony Joshua lost his belts for a second time when he was outpointed by Oleksandr Usyk in a one-sided showdown at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. Anthony Joshua looks to win back the belts he lost to Usyk last September and try to become world heavyweight champion for a third time when he rematches Usyk on August 20 in Saudi Arabia.

Earlier in 2021, Joshua had been expected to face British rival and fellow world champion Tyson Fury in a huge unification match. But that was prevented when Fury was forced by an American judge to face Deontay Wilder again.

based on Haye’s statement “Joshua could be  on the verge of retirement if he loses to usyk again. Nethertheless, Anthony Joshua has had so many motivatin records. Hes record as a professional consists of 26 fights to date, of which he has won 24 and lost 2. A total of 22 of Joshua’s victories have come inside distance while only two of his fights have gone the full distance. Here is a full rundown of his fights and results to date:

Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk 2

Date: August 20, 2022
Venue: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Result: –

The rematch between Joshua and Usyk would likely have taken place by now but for the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Naturally some things are way bigger than boxing, and with Usyk back home in a territorial defence unit fighting for his homeland, a delay was inevitable. Per AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn though, it is likely the bout will go ahead in August 2022. Exact date and venue to be confirmed but August 20 in Saudi Arabia is hot favourite with an announcement imminent.

Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk

Date: September 25, 2021
Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, UK
Result: Usyk won UD (117-112, 116-112, 115-113)

An enchanting matchup in north London saw the british international lose his titles for a second time, courtesy of a boxing masterclass for the ages from former cruiserweight champion Usyk. Joshua was perplexed from the start by the blinding movement and hand speed of the challenger, as he built a convincing lead in the first half of the fight. Joshua did have moments of success in the middle rounds, but it was Usyk who finished strong to have Joshua struggling on the ropes. Any other result than Usyk by UD would have been an outrage, and the challenger duly achieved his dream of becoming champion at cruiserweight and heavyweight.

Joshua vs Kubrat Pulev

Date: December 12, 2020
Venue: SSE Arena, Wembley, London, UK
Result:  Joshua won KO R9

Joshua successfully defended his IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles in some style against the durable Bulgarian Pulev. He produced a dominant performance in London to put the 39-year-old Pulev down three times en route to a convincing victory. Pulev had already taken a standing count when was decked by an uppercut in the third round before somehow recovering. But in the ninth AJ’s finishing capability was on show as he sealed the deal. First he produced another peach of an uppercut to register his second knockdown of the night. The third arrived in the closing seconds of the session – a peach of a straight right to close the show.

Joshua vs Andy Ruiz Jr 2

 

Date: December 7, 2019
Venue: Diriyah Arena, Diriyah, Saudi Arabia
Result: Joshua won UD (118-110, 118-110, 119-109)

Joshua gained immediate revenge for the first defeat of his professional career, comfortably outpointing a horribly out-of-condition Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia. AJ was more circumspect than in previous fights, adapting his style to box more from the outside, limiting the danger of being caught by Ruiz as he had been at Madison Square Garden. The bout produced a new domestic record for PPV buys, with 1.6million people watching the fight at a cost of £24.99 each. Joshua reclaimed his IBF, WBA and WBO world heavyweight titles.

Joshua vs Andy Ruiz Jr

 

Date: June 1, 2019
Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, United States
Result: Ruiz Jr won TKO R7

Joshua lost his IBF, WBA and WBO  world heavyweight titles as he suffered a stunning first professional defeat at the hands of late stand-in and huge underdog Andy Ruiz Jr. AJ – making his big Stateside debut at one of boxing’s spiritual homes – never looked comfortable despite having Ruiz Jr on the floor in round 3, and was clubbed to a stoppage defeat in round 7.  Ruiz Jr had only been given the opportunity to fight Joshua weeks before the bout when Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller tested positive for PEDs.

Joshua vs Alexander Povetkin

Date: September 22, 2018
Venue: Wembley Stadium, London, England
Result: Joshua won TKO R7

Joshua maintained his unbeaten record after wearing down former world heavyweight champion Povetkin in front of another huge crowd at Wembley Stadium. The smaller and faster Povetkin started well, but Joshua gradually assumed control before blasting the Russia to defeat in R7. The fight was the first major bout to be shown in the United States by new streaming platform DAZN.

Joshua vs Joseph Parker

Date: March 31, 2018
Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
Result: Joshua won UD (118-110, 118-110, 119-109)

Joshua joins Parker’s WBO world heavyweight title to his IBF and WBA belts with an ultimately convincing points victory. The margin on the official cards was wider than most ringside experts had it, but there was no doubting AJ’s eventual ascendancy. Parker though did become the first fighter to take Joshua the distance in a professional session.

Joshua vs Carlos Takam

Date: October 28, 2017
Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
Result: Joshua won TKO R10

Anthony Joshua successfully defended his WBA and IBF belts against French veteran Takam in Cardiff, but the manner of the 10th-round stoppage left a bit of a sour taste. Though he was cut over the right eye and had been down in the fourth, Takam didn’t look to be in impending danger when referee Phil Edwards stepped in.

Joshua vs Wladimir Klitschko

Date: April 29, 2017
Venue: Wembley Stadium, London, England
Result: Joshua won TKO R11

A spectacular unification fight against one of the greats of the sport, this remains to date AJ’s finest hour as a professional so far. After putting Wladimir on the canvas in R5, Joshua himself was in a world of trouble a round later when Klitschko sent him sprawling. For a while it looked like just a matter of time before a wobbly AJ would fall for good, but he regained his composure brilliantly to survive some desperate moments, get back on top and force a tumultuous 11th-round stoppage. The victory saw Joshua add the WBA world heavyweight title to his IBF belt.

 

Joshua vs Eric Molina

Date: December 10, 2016
Venue: Manchester Arena, Manchester, England
Result: Joshua won TKO R3

Joshua successfully defended his IBF world heavyweight title with a crushing stoppage victory against the overmatched Molina in Manchester. AJ sent Molina crashing to the canvas with a devastating straight right with a minute remaining in round 3, and though the challenger did beat the count Joshua was quickly in to force the stoppage.

Joshua vs Dominic Breazeale

Date: June 25, 2016
Venue: O2 Arena, London, England
Result: Joshua won TKO R7

Another fight for AJ, another victory inside distance – though he was taken past round 3 for only the second time in his professional career so far. The end came in the seventh as he swarmed all over Breazeale to force two knockdowns in quick succession – the second of them decisive.

Joshua vs Charles Martin

Date: April 9, 2016
Venue: O2 Arena, London, England
Result: Joshua won KO R2

Joshua became world heavyweight champion in just his 16th professional fight as he blasted Martin to a comprehensive defeat inside two rounds on a famous night in London. Martin gave AJ few problems as he was outgunned from the start and took several big shots in the latter stages of the opening stanza. Round 2 was one-way traffic as AJ poured it on, twice decking Martin with beautiful rights and the champion failed to beat the count the second time round.

Joshua vs Dillian Whyte

Date: December 12, 2015
Venue: O2 Arena, London, England
Result: Joshua won TKO R7

Joshua came successfully through the biggest test of his career so far – a dust-up with dangerous British rival Whyte. It was a cracking tear-up while it lasted and Whyte landed some big shots of his own as well as taking plenty. AJ was taken past round 3 for the first time as a professional, but eventually got properly on top in round 7 as he wobbled Whyte with a hook to the temple and then completed the job with a savage uppercut. The win saw Joshua add the British heavyweight title to his growing collection of belts.

 

Joshua vs Gary Cornish

Date: September 12, 2015
Venue: O2 Arena, London, England
Result: Joshua won TKO R1

Joshua claimed the vacant Commonwealth heavyweight title with a devastating victory over Cornish in London. AJ decked the Scot twice in the opening 90 seconds of the bout before referee Victor Loughlin called a halt to proceedings.

Joshua vs Kevin Johnson

Date: May 30, 2015
Venue: O2 Arena, London, England
Result: Joshua won TKO R2

A real statement night for Joshua, who according to then ESPN lead boxing writer Dan Rafael “slaughtered a guy who had never been hurt, much less down”. Johnson, with no apparent thought for defence, was wide open and Joshua smashed him to the canvas twice in the opening session. Though Johnson came through that, there would be no surviving round 2 as AJ hurt his opponent again with a thumping left hook before a barrage of punches caused a sensational early stoppage.

Joshua vs Raphael Zumbano

Date: May 9, 2015
Venue: Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham, England
Result: Joshua won KO R2

Joshua hardly had to break sweat as he battered the Brazilian Zumbano inside two rounds in Birmingham. The coup de grace was a thing of beauty. Zumbano left himself open and Joshua landed a spectacular right hook to close the show.

Joshua vs Jason Gavern

Date: April 4, 2015
Venue: Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, England
Result: Joshua won KO R3

Gavern was just no match for Joshua, who blasted him to the canvas four times en route to yet another easy night. It was the 11th time in 11 professional fights he had won in less than three rounds.

Joshua vs Michael Sprott

Date: November 22, 2014
Venue: Echo Arena, Liverpool, England
Result: Joshua won TKO R1

Anthony Joshua took less than one round to dismantle the hugely experienced Sprott in Liverpool. AJ was just too quick for an ageing Sprott as he seemingly landed power punches at will to close the show in just 90 seconds.

Joshua vs Denis Bakhtov

Date: October 11, 2014
Venue: O2 Arena, London, England
Result: Joshua won TKO R2

Anthony Joshua’s growing stature was again boosted by another quickfire demolition job. Most experts expected AJ to have to dig a little deeper than in previous fights. But it didn’t prove to be the case as he clubbed his way to victory inside two rounds.

Joshua vs Konstantin Airich

 

Date: September 13, 2014
Venue: Phones 4u Arena, Manchester, England
Result: Joshua won TKO R3

Anthony Joshua dominated right out of the gates – as he was expected to – to maintain the perfect start to his professional career. He won the first two rounds comfortably before really opening up in the third. Airich was sent to the canvas once by a flurry of shots and though he managed to beat the count, a devastating right hook by AJ was enough for referee Steve Gray to bring proceedings to an early conclusion.

Joshua vs Matt Skelton

Date: July 12, 2014
Venue: Echo Arena, Liverpool, England
Result: Joshua won TKO R2

He easily disposed of veteran Matt Skelton inside two rounds in Liverpool. He again showcased the devastating punching power which threatened to make him a global superstar. A massive overhand right in the first round showed Skelton this would not be a long night. Another huge right late in the second put him on the canvas. And though he did beat the count, Joshua was all over him causing referee Steve Gray to wave it off.

Joshua vs Matt Legg

Date: May 31, 2014
Venue: Wembley Stadium, London, England
Result: Joshua won KO R1

Anthony Joshua appeared on the undercard of Carl Froch vs George Groves II at Wembley Stadium, and put on a show to obliterate the hapless Legg in just 83 seconds. Two venomous uppercuts followed by a clipping left hook were enough to settle matters in some style.

Anthony Joshua vs Hector Alfredo Avila

Date: March 1, 2014
Venue: Scottish Exhibition Centre, Glasgow, Scotland
Result: Joshua won KO R1

Only 124 seconds were needed for Joshua to register another quickfire victory. When Avila walked into a counter left late in the first round, the issue was settled very swiftly.

Joshua vs Dorian Darch

Date: February 1, 2014
Venue: Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, Wales
Result: Joshua won TKO R2

Anthony Joshua was clipped by a rare right from Darch in the opening session in Cardiff, and the response was brutal. AJ went to work once again in devastating style and was completely on top by the end of the round. A right in the second round stiffened Darch’s legs and referee Terry O’Connor stepped in.

Joshua vs Hrvoje Kisicek

Date: November 14, 2013
Venue: York Hall, London, England
Result: Joshua won TKO R2

Anthony Joshua dwarfed his Croatian opponent for the third fight of his professional career, and made good use of his physical advantages. The opening session was one-way traffic but Kisicek did at least make it through to the bell. The second however had Joshua in no mood to allow his opponent off the hook, and he showed clinical finishing ability to have the fight stopped after initially dropping the overmatched Croatian.

Joshua vs Paul Butlin

Date: October 26, 2013
Venue: Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield, England
Result: Joshua won TKO R2

Anthony Joshua produced a chilling destruction of Butlin to improve his professional record to 2-0. He was dominant in the opening session closed the show in the second. A left hook made Butlin unsteady before a crunching straight right put him on the canvas and opened a nasty cut. Butlin did beat the count, but Joshua was in quickly. Referee Howard Foster had no choice but to call a halt.

Joshua vs Emanuele Leo

 

Date: October 5, 2013
Venue: O2 Arena, London, England
Result: Joshua won TKO R1

Anthony Joshua made his eagerly-awaited professional bow and was extremely crisp and impressive in the process. He took just two minutes and 47 seconds to dispose of his Italian opponent. The end came with a beauty of a straight right.

Haye  in his statement believes that   Anthony Joshua’s rematch against Usyk is a do-or-die moment for  him, adding that: “If he doesn’t win, I am not sure he wants to be in a sport where he knows he is not the best. He got outhustled by someone he knows he can beat. If he does everything right and Usyk still beats him, I don’t know if there is anything else to do. He is such a winner that I don’t know what he does next.”

Joshua was encouraged to find a new trainer after his loss to Usyk, despite being with McCracken since winning Olympic gold a decade ago. ‘AJ’ toured the US in his search for a new coach, working with the likes of Virgil Hunter and Eddy Reynoso before partnering with Garcia.

The heavyweight duo are set for their championship rematch in Saudi Arabia on August 20.

Haye said of his trainer switch: “Change is good, different methods, face and voice, whoever was saying what, who came up with the plan is irrelevant, he has to win this fight to get back on top of the world. I think his performance can’t get worse than the first time, in terms of tactics and gameplan,” Haye said.

lastly, he added: “That was the worst, I am sure Garcia won’t do that again.” Joshua failed to make use of his size advantage over Usyk in their first meeting and tried to outbox the former undisputed cruiserweight champion.

Garcia has backed his fighter to implement a new strategy in the rematch to avenge his defeat.

“We have to come out with different strategies in case one doesn’t work,” he said. “We’ll be ready for the fight, Anthony is listening. He believes in us and that’s the most important thing because in the ring he’s got to come out and do what we tell him to do.”

 

 

The Guardian