Former WBO cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson has advised Anthony Joshua to consider retirement from boxing, arguing that the two-time heavyweight world champion has “nothing left to prove” after a long and successful career.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Nelson expressed concern that Joshua may be risking his health and legacy by continuing to fight at the elite level. “Joshua has been to the top of the mountain. He’s achieved everything most fighters dream of—world titles, stadium fights, financial security. At this point, he doesn’t need to keep going just to please fans,” Nelson said.
Joshua, 35, has endured a turbulent few years since losing his unified heavyweight titles to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021. Although he has bounced back with wins over the likes of Jermaine Franklin and Otto Wallin, critics argue he no longer carries the same aura of dominance that once made him Britain’s biggest sporting star.
Nelson added, “Every fighter has to know when to walk away. You don’t want to be remembered as someone who stayed around too long. Joshua has given the sport everything—he’s a two-time world champion, an Olympic gold medalist, and a global ambassador for boxing. That’s enough.”
Joshua has yet to respond to Nelson’s comments, but the debate over his future continues to intensify. With potential blockbuster bouts still on the table—most notably against Deontay Wilder or Tyson Fury—many believe Joshua will resist calls to step aside.
For now, the Watford-born fighter remains focused on training, but with voices like Nelson’s urging caution, questions about how much longer “AJ” will lace up the gloves are likely to grow louder.
