British Boxing Legend Adviced Anthony Joshua To Retire Before Serious Health Damage Is Done

Carl Froch hasn’t had the best relationship with Anthony Joshua in recent years.

The former super middleweight world champion has often criticised the British heavyweight publicly and shared plenty of heated messages privately, particularly since ‘AJ’ left Froch’s former coach Rob McCracken

Right now Joshua is without a belt and coming off a damaging knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois.

He is a former two-time world champion in his mid-thirties with only a few fights left at the top level. He has also lost to Andy Ruiz J, although he avenged that one, and was twice on the wrong end of a points decision when he took on Oleksandr Usyk.

Speaking to Fightlens, Froch assessed where Joshua is at right now.

“I’m just honest and I tell the truth and Anthony Joshua has had a good career, a fantastic career, based on the level of his ability.

“He’s been ironed out a few times and that last whopping he took against Daniel Dubois looked hurtful, particularly damaging to his health. You can have as much money as you want in the bank, but your health is more important, you can’t put a price on your health.”

READ MORE : I’ m Still Myself, Anthony Joshua’s fastest ever KO left rival crumpled at his feet after…

He then suggested he is finished and should hang up his gloves.

“The way he got knocked out looked like he’d been tasered. Hurt in round one, ironed out in round five. Why is he fighting? Since losing to Ruiz, back-to-back defeats to Usyk, then he fought Wallin, Ngannou, Helenius, he’s not had any competition.

“The minute somebody turns up with some ambition, which is Dubois, he didn’t want to know. Now the best thing he can do is retire.”

Anthony Joshua himself has a different view and has vowed to fight on, with the latest suggestions being that he could well return this summer for a blockbuster rematch with Dubois.

I’ Still Myself, Anthony Joshua’s fastest ever KO left rival crumpled at his feet after trademark shot on Carl Froch vs George Groves undercard

Anthony Joshua is one of British boxing’s most iconic figures in the modern era, having achieved it all as an Olympic gold medallist and a two-time heavyweight world champion.

Joshua went on a superb winning streak after turning over as a professional following his success at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

He won his first five fights in short stoppages, and was developing a fearsome reputation as a ferocious puncher.

The biggest opportunity of his career came on the undercard of Carl Froch and George Groves’ famous 2014 rematch.

It broke records as 80,000 packed into Wembley Stadium for the event, with Joshua getting a unique chance to impress on the undercard.

And he did more than impress against journeyman Matt Legg who leapt at the opportunity to take on the sport’s latest rising star.

But it was a devastating barrage of blows that saw his name on the tip of the watching fans tongues.

He first teed off with two shots that were largely blocked by Legg’s covered card.

Although a crunching uppercut found the mark crashing into the skull of the helpless Legg.

It sent him crumpling to the former Olympian’s feet as he fell flat on his back, the latest victim of the crazy power.

READ MORE : Anthony Joshua Set For Return Soon ,Eddie Hearn Listed five Opponents Interested..

The referee waved off the contest with Legg clearly out of his depth, making it the fastest KO of the champion’s career to this date.

Legg described how the fight came about, being paid £8,000 for the clash with the future king.

He said: “My manager called up and said ‘Anthony Joshua’s team have offered the AJ fight, at Wembley Stadium on the Carl Froch-George Groves rematch. I went ‘100 per cent I’ll take it.’

“I would have done it for free. If they’d have said ‘the thing is you’ve got to do it for nothing’, I’d have went ‘alright’.

Anthony Joshua Set For Return Soon ,Eddie Hearn Listed five Opponents Interested in His Return.

Although Tyson Fury is no longer the front-runner, Joshua has a list of five possible opponents for his next bout.

Since his knockout loss against IBF champion Daniel Dubois in September, Joshua has been out of action.

Before the Gypsy King declared his retirement in January, Joshua appeared to be headed for a big comeback against Tyson Fury.

Joshua might want a rematch with Dubois next because Fury hasn’t changed his mind about his boxing career yet.

Instead of immediately rematching with the 27-year-old Dubois, Joshua, 35, agreed to take on Parker next.

However, he withdrew from the bout with Parker in February just a few days before due to an ailment he contracted in Saudi Arabia.

In one round, however, Parker, defeated Bakole, a late replacement who filled in with little over 24 hours’ notice.

On the same evening, Kabayel defeated Zhilei Zhang to claim the WBC interim title.

READ MORE : I don’t Think he can win,Tyson Fury Warns Anthony Joshua to Stay Well Away From…

The 39-year-old former champion Wilder just lost to Parker on points and to Zhang via knockout.

Although the American has not yet announced a return to the ring, there are rumors that he is planning a comeback.

The most recent fight that Wilder has been associated with was against Francis Ngannou, a 38-year-old former UFC champion who was defeated by AJ and Fury in the ring.

Anthony Joshua, a former two-time world heavyweight champion, has risen two spots in the most recent Ring Magazine heavyweight rankings.

While Tyson Fury is ranked No. 1 despite declaring his retirement in January, Oleksandr Usyk is still in a class above the top 10.

The last time Anthony Joshua fought, he lost to Dubois via knockout at Wembley Stadium in September 2024.

Following consecutive losses to Usyk in 2024—the first setbacks of his professional career—Fury made his decision. Many in the boxing community, however, question whether his retirement is permanent.

Bakole was knocked out by Joseph Parker after filling in for Dubois on short notice, while Zhang was halted by a stunning body blow from Agit Kabayel in the sixth round of their WBC interim heavyweight bout.

Joshua’s ascent in the rankings comes after the division underwent major changes.

Bakole, who was once ranked No. 6, is now No. 7, and Zhang plummeted from No. 4 to No. 6.

After his career-best victory, Kabayel climbed to No. 4, and Anthony Joshua is now No. 5 behind Zhilei Zhang, a German boxer.

“Who’s next for world champion ? How can I fight for the world title next? If [Oleksandr] Usyk wants a dance partner next, then we can get Uncle Frank [Warren] in here.”

Those were the words of Joseph Parker after he dispatched Martin Bakole inside two rounds in Saudi Arabia.

With the New Zealander losing his chance at becoming a two-time world champion when IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois withdrew through illness, Parker took the opportunity to put himself in the frame to fight WBC, WBA (Super) and WBO king Oleksandr Usyk.

Dubois’ illness could have a huge impact on the heavyweight scene with the Briton now eyeing an undisputed clash with Ukraine’s Usyk.

But Usyk is not short of challengers and it seems everyone is lining up to fight him.

Despite not looking to instantly avenge his brutal knockout by Dubois back in September 2024, Anthony Joshua remains on the scene and still has ambitions on becoming a three-time champion.

BBC Sport looks at the heavyweight landscape after a week or shocks and a night of knockouts.