It’s no secret around here that I’m a big Anthony Joshua fan. Always have been. But even I have to admit — the Anthony Joshua retirement rumours floating around right now don’t feel totally out of left field. In fact, I’d go so far as to say they might have a bit of weight behind them.
Let’s be honest: ever since that shock defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr back in 2019, AJ hasn’t looked quite the same. The aura of invincibility is long gone, and while there’ve been flashes of the old magic, there’s also been a lot of soul-searching, trainer-hopping, and fights that just didn’t go the way they should’ve.
Trainer Trouble and the Changing Gameplan
Since the Ruiz loss, Joshua has worked with a revolving door of trainers — Robert McCracken, Robert Garcia, Derrick James, and most recently Ben Davison. That alone tells a story. When a fighter’s constantly switching corners, it often suggests they’re chasing answers rather than building on a plan. It’s not always a bad thing, but it rarely screams confidence or long-term strategy.
Davison has said all the right things, and AJ himself seems more relaxed than he’s been in years. But let’s not pretend that the Daniel Dubois fight wasn’t a red flag. Dubois is improving, no doubt, but that should’ve been a fairly routine win for a former two-time heavyweight champion. Instead, it was scrappy and uncertain — and that’s being kind.
What’s Left to Achieve?
So if Anthony Joshua retirement rumours are to be believed, what does he still want before calling it a day?
Undisputed? Highly unlikely. The belts are currently tied up between Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois, who face off at Wembley in July. And even if AJ were to fight the winner, there’s no guarantee he comes out on top. Usyk’s already beaten him twice, and Dubois now has momentum on his side.
A trilogy with Dillian Whyte? Maybe. A farewell stadium fight against Deontay Wilder? That one’s long been rumoured, but Wilder’s own future is murky after recent setbacks. Tyson Fury? Let’s be serious — if that was going to happen, it would’ve happened by now.
The only realistic goal that remains is one more big night, one more packed stadium, and one more final statement before bowing out.
Reading Between the Lines
AJ’s body language these days is calm — too calm, some would argue. He’s hinted in interviews that he’s content, more focused on personal peace than proving anything to anyone. He’s invested heavily in his businesses outside the ring, including 258 MGT, and rarely speaks with the edge or hunger we saw earlier in his career.
That’s not to say he doesn’t care. But it does suggest a man who knows his time is nearly up and wants to leave on his terms. If 2026 really is the year he walks away, it wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest.
Final Thoughts
So — are the Anthony Joshua retirement rumours true? We don’t know. Not yet. But for the first time, they don’t feel like tabloid fluff. They feel… plausible.
Whatever happens, I hope he gets the ending he deserves. AJ brought British boxing back to the mainstream, filled stadiums, and carried himself like a true ambassador for the sport. But time waits for no man — even one with abs carved from granite.
Is AJ on his way out, or does he have one last world title run in him? Let me know in the comments — and don’t forget to share this post and check out the latest boxing insights over at CMBoxing.co.uk.