Boxing

ANTHONY JOSHUA UNVEILS RETIREMENT PLANS

Published

4 years ago

June 1, 2020

Heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua has outlined his plan to ‘make a transition’ into retirement ‘over the next eight years’.

He is reported by UK’s daily Mail as saying: ‘When boxing departs I’m not going to crumble – I always have plans to develop as a businessman’

Joshua who turned professional one year after winning gold at the London 2012 Olympics, and he is already preparing life after boxing.

The 30-year-old aspires to take part in philanthropic work and become a ‘well respected businessman’ when he hangs up the gloves.

In the meantime, Joshua insists he is fully focused on unifying the heavyweight division by defeating rival Tyson Fury.

‘I am a normal person that happens to box so what I always said to myself is I’m never gonna make boxing all of who I am,’ he told the Sun.

‘So even though it’s a very significant part of my life, when boxing departs one day, I’m not going to crumble with it and I’m gonna be relevant. I always have plans to develop myself as a businessman.

‘Over the next eight years I’m gonna make a transition, not only as a boxer, but a well respected individual, well respected businessman and also someone who’s like a philanthropist where you’re talking about giving back, about different causes.

‘I will have my point where I’ll stand for more than just boxing because at the minute, nobody really cares if I do give back to certain communities.

‘All they wanna know is when am I knocking out Tyson Fury, so I understand that.

‘I have to start thinking of making these last years of transition as well as staying on the top of my game.’

Joshua regained his IBO, IBF, WBA and WBO belts in December by beating Andy Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia, six months after suffering his first career defeat to the Mexican in New York.

He was scheduled to take on Kubrat Pulev in the summer before the coronavirus crisis brought sporting action to a halt, and that fight has yet to be rescheduled.

Meanwhile, Fury is set to do battle with Deontay Wilder in a trilogy fight after the Bronze Bomber triggered a rematch clause in his contract.

Fury became WBC champion in February when he stopped Wilder inside seven rounds at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Former heavyweight king Mike Tyson recently revealed he hopes to return to the ring in an exhibition match, but Joshua says he has no intention of facing the 53-year-old.

‘With all due respect I wouldn’t,’ he told the Sun.

‘Even if I fought Iron Mike and beat him, I think I’d be the only one cheering. People would boo. He is a legend. He is the greatest boxer of the modern era.

‘There are only two recognised champions the world knows of, Ali and Mike Tyson — the most recognised faces in the world when it comes to boxing.’

-Daily Mail

Boxing

Anthony Joshua’s opponent, Helenius gets two-year ban

Published

1 week ago

July 19, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Anthony Joshua v Robert Helenius - O2 Arena, London, Britain - August 12, 2023 Robert Helenius in action during his fight against Antonhy Joshua Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge/File Photo

Finland’s Robert Helenius has been banned for two years due to Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) for the presence and use of a prohibited substance for his bout against Britain’s Anthony Joshua in August 2023, UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) said on Friday.

Former heavyweight world champion Joshua beat stand-in Helenius with a seventh round single-punch knockout at the London O2 Arena.

But Helenius’s sample from a voluntary drug test the day before the bout tested positive for clomifene, which the Finnish boxer said may have originated from consuming eggs and chicken.

Helenius, now 40, was provisionally suspended and UKAD said he was unable to provide proof that “the eggs and chicken meat he had consumed in advance of the bout originated from hens that had been administered clomifene”.

“Mr Helenius was therefore unable to identify the source of clomifene in his sample and therefore unable to reduce the applicable period of ineligibility of two years,” UKAD added.

However, UKAD said that since Helenius was provisionally suspended on Sept. 18, 2023, he has already served 10 months of his ban which will expire on Sept. 17, 2025.

-Reuters

Boxing

Dubois promises to put an end to Anthony Joshua era

Published

1 month ago

June 26, 2024

Kunle Solaja

It promises a tough time for Anthony Joshua if the words of Daniel Dubois are anything to go by, as both will clash in September.

“I’m aiming to be the best. AJ (Joshua) has been the King for a long time but on the night I need to be the ‘King slayer’. That’s the goal, the mission I have,” Dubois said at the news conference on Wednesday.

“I’m ready to let my fists do the talking. I’m 100% ready to go and to train like a beast.”

Dubois has a 21-2 record with 20 knockouts while 34-year-old Joshua’s record is 28-3, including 25 knockouts.

Usyk beat two-times heavyweight champion Joshua twice – first in 2021 to seize the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts and again in 2022 when he defended the belts – but the Briton has won his last four fights.

“I went out to watch his last fight… Dubois has been on my mind for a while and he will be for the next 12 weeks,” Joshua said.

“Whoever was going to be there, I was ready to fight in September. It just happened to be him.”

When questioned about the age difference, Joshua said: “It don’t matter, we’re in peak condition. Age is just a number.”

Usyk had knocked out Dubois in nine rounds last year in a bout overshadowed by a low blow controversy when the Ukrainian went down gasping for breath after he was hit on the band of his shorts.

“Anthony and Daniel, I know the IBF title is important to you. It is my present to you on September 21,” Usyk said on X, opens new tab when he vacated the belt.

The winner of the bout between Joshua and Dubois could then get a crack at the undisputed champion after Usyk and Fury have their rematch.

The undercard will have five bouts, including two for the IBF super-featherweight title and the WBO interim light-heavyweight title.

“This is probably the most stacked card in British boxing history, certainly in my lifetime, headlined by Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua,” Queensberry promoter Frank Warren said.

“Where better to do it at the national stadium, Wembley?”

Boxing

Usyk vacates IBF heavyweight title

Published

1 month ago

June 26, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Oleksandr Usyk has vacated the International Boxing Federation (IBF) heavyweight belt, the Ukrainian said on Tuesday, five weeks after becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion.

The announcement comes after Usyk’s mandatory IBF title defence against challenger Croatian Filip Hrgovic was left pending and Daniel Dubois became the new interim IBF heavyweight champion by beating Hrgovic earlier this month.

The 37-year-old Usyk requested not to be stripped of his IBF belt to contest the undisputed champion title when he takes on Fury in their December rematch, where only the WBC, WBO and WBA titles will now be on the line.

The heavyweight IBF title, which Usyk held since 2021, will be up for grabs when Anthony Joshua takes on Dubois in September at Wembley Stadium.

“Anthony and Daniel, I know the IBF title is important to you. It is my present to you on 21 September,” Usyk said in a video message on X.

Last month Usyk became the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 2000 as he claimed the WBC title by beating Tyson Fury by a split decision in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Usyk said he may return to the cruiserweight division following his rematch with Fury.

-Reuters