Anthony Joshua vs Andy Ruiz: World heavyweight champion reveals retirement plan and intention to have Tyson Fury meeting

The Brit hopes to emerge victorious from Madison Square Garden on Saturday before starting negotiations for a British superfight

Jack Rathborn
Friday 31 May 2019 16:55 BST
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Anthony Joshua appears for public workout in New York ahead of Andy Ruiz Jr fight

Anthony Joshua admits he will retire from boxing if he endures another fight like his war with Wladimir Klitschko.

The world heavyweight champion defends his WBA, WBO and IBF titles on Saturday in New York against Andy Ruiz Jr.

But the Brit admits if he sustains as much damage as he did to emerge victorious against Wladimir Klitschko in 2017, he will walk away from the sport.

Joshua told Carl Frampton on Joe: “I said to my coach, ‘if I have another one of these fights, I’m done with boxing’.

“I should be good enough that I don’t have to go through hell and back to win a fight. It should be a good competition, but I shouldn’t have to go through one of those fights to win.”

Deontay Wilder has already made plans to fight Luiz Ortiz for a second time, likely pushing back a potential undisputed heavyweight title fight until 2020.

So Joshua has revealed his intent to sit down with Tyson Fury and thrash out terms for an all-British superfight.

“God willing I win (vs Ruiz), I want to sit down with Fury and see what it will take to make the fight,” Joshua added.

Joshua admits he could retire if he endured another fight like his war with Klitschko (Action)

“Wilder is fighting Ortiz. It would be easy to fight Joe Bloggs the next five times and sell out an arena, but I feel like I’d be robbing myself.

“So I want to challenge myself with Fury or Wilder. I want to have a meeting with Fury.”

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