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DIRIYAH, SAUDI ARABIA – DECEMBER 07: Anthony Joshua celebrates victory over Andy Ruiz Jr during the IBF, WBA, WBO & IBO World Heavyweight Title Fight between Andy Ruiz Jr and Anthony Joshua during the Matchroom Boxing ‘Clash on the Dunes’ show at the Diriyah Season on December 07, 2019 in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

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DIRIYAH, SAUDI ARABIA – DECEMBER 07: Anthony Joshua celebrates victory over Andy Ruiz Jr during the IBF, WBA, WBO & IBO World Heavyweight Title Fight between Andy Ruiz Jr and Anthony Joshua during the Matchroom Boxing ‘Clash on the Dunes’ show at the Diriyah Season on December 07, 2019 in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Anthony Joshua shocked everyone by making an interesting revelation about the timeline of his career. Joshua opined to Sky Sports quite openly that he expects his career to be wrapping up in the next five years. The former Olympic Gold Medalist likened the duration he has left as a boxer to that of an Olympian, saying he has an Olympic cycle and some more left in him.
Anthony Joshua on retirement: "This isn't the start of my career. I'm coming towards the end of my career… Five years left, that's basically an Olympic cycle. I've got an Olympic cycle and a little bit more left." [@SkySportsBoxing]
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) January 7, 2021
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Joshua is 31-years old, so retiring by age 36 seems fair. However, we have seen fighters have longer careers. This includes Kubrat Pulev, who was Joshua’s last fight. Pulev is 29 years old and still competing at the highest level.
However, Tyson Fury was not impressed with AJ painting himself as a legend who has accomplished everything in the sport. He took to Twitter and responded to a picture where Joshua refers to himself as a great with a scathing, yet humorous response.
A great? My arse! You got ktfo by a chubby kid who had 3 weeks notice. You are a great at looking good on pics I must say whit whooo…..xxx
— TYSON FURY (@Tyson_Fury) January 7, 2021
Anthony Joshua and Fury are expected to face off in a super-fight in 2021. Many have already billed it as one of the biggest fights of this generation, and the excitement will be off the roofs for this battle.
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Anthony Joshua: Will the Tyson Fury matchup change his opinion?
Fury got in that Twitter reply section just to stoke the flames for his inevitable matchup with AJ. Joshua is also acutely aware of this direction and seems confident as ever. However, will this matchup have an impact on the timeline that Joshua has put forth?

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 22: Tyson Fury celebrates his win by TKO in the seventh round against Deontay Wilder in the Heavyweight bout for Wilder’s WBC and Fury’s lineal heavyweight title on February 22, 2020 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
If Joshua wins, he could possibly stick to the window he has set for himself. But he stands to make generational money with the Fury fight. A loss could sway him in the other direction if it saps his drive within the sport.
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However, we do wish that AJ can stick to the retirement plan he has set out for himself. He has had a magnificent career and should feel free to call it quits whenever, even if the fans wish they can see him fight for a little while longer.
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