Two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua wants to make sure he is not nursing his boxing wounds well into old age after he retires from boxing.
The British-Nigerian said in a recent interview that he is going to judge a part of his legacy with his health.
“In boxing, people walk in the gym one way and not many walk out the same way, because of the trauma and the stuff they put their body through,” Joshua told Men’s Health. “I want my legacy to be, I walked out healthy.”
“Imagine me at the age of 50 or 60 in a wheelchair and fragile because of the trauma I put my body through. My legacy should be when I’m old, I’m still fresh. I want people to say, ‘Oh wow, he still looks good, he still looks after himself.’ That’s a legacy,” he said.
The 33-year-old is coming off a unanimous points win over Jermaine Franklin last month, his first win since losing two in a row to heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk of Ukraine. The Franklin fight was Joshua’s first under the tutelage of trainer Derrick James, who is best known for training unified welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. and undisputed junior middleweight champion Jermell Charlo.
Joshua could be headed for a significant showdown with former WBC champion Deontay Wilder or Tyson Fury in December in the Middle East. There has been talk that Joshua could return in the summer, depending on the status of the December fight.
“In December potentially there is a big fight that should be cracking with me and Wilder,” Joshua said.
It has been a long time coming. There are a lot of moving shapes at the minute, a lot of things happening, so one step at a time. But it has been a long time coming, for sure.”
