Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua insists he is excited to get his career back on track ahead of his huge domestic showdown with Dillian Whyte next month.
The 33-year-old is looking to rebuild after successive losses against Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and 2022. He returned to winning ways by outpointing Jermaine Franklin in April, but his performance drew criticisms from fans and pundits alike.
That was his first fight under new trainer Derrick James, after Joshua decided to team up with the American in Texas.
Having failed to shine against Franklin, questions have been raised about whether the change in environment has benefitted Joshua.
The two-time world champion is happy with his current set-up, though, and feels he is doing everything right to get back to the top of the heavyweight division.
“What’s beautiful about sports is there’s always a next opportunity to prove yourself, so no matter what happens, there’s a process that I’m following and I just know that if we look at history, everything will work out for me,” he said.
“I’ve just got to ride the wave, stay consistent, stay focused and when the opportunity presents itself… everyone can write you off, but if you believe in yourself and you continue on your journey, 100 per cent you will overcome. Only you can defeat yourself. Not anyone else.”
Joshua claimed he would retire if he lost to Franklin, but he now appears to have no plans to hang his gloves up any time soon.
After making a name for himself as a knockout artist in the early stages of his professional career, Joshua has now gone almost three years without a stoppage win.
There are doubts about whether he still has the spitefulness in him that had him dominate boxing’s blue-riband division, but he believes he should not be written off just yet.
Punch
