Anthony Joshua is at the ‘END’ of his boxing career and insists he is ‘looking forward’ to retiring

Anthony Joshua has said he is coming to the “end” of his career and described himself as an “old man” before his return to boxing.

Joshua hasn’t set foot in the ring since his second straight loss to Oleksandr Usyk in August, having lost his WBA, WBO and IBF belts to the Ukrainian mastermind in September of last year.

Joshua, who hopes to return to boxing in the spring, said he must work harder than ever to “make these last few years count.” However, he admitted that he was “hoping” to spend more time with his family once he retires.

Anthony Joshua (above) has said he is coming to the “end of his career” at 33.

speaking to GiveMeSport, Joshua said: ‘I am puzzled, I am an old man, where did the time go? So I always look at it like I’m not at the beginning of my career and I’m not in the middle, I’m at the end.

That’s how fast time has gone, I have to make sure now that I do as much work as I’ve ever done and make these last few years count. My greatest achievement has yet to be reached. It will be when I manage to get out on the other side of the fighting game.

“Personally, I always thought that I would probably cry when boxing was over, because I put so much in and out of the ring. You kind of put a lot into your work, you wake up, you sacrifice, you’re tired sometimes; All that kind of stuff, we all go through it.

Joshua (right) suffered his second straight loss to Oleksandr Usyk (left) in August (above), having lost his WBA, WBO and IBF belts to the Ukrainian in September last year.

Joshua (R), who hopes to return to boxing in the spring, said he must work harder than ever to make these last few years in the ring “count.”

‘Sometimes you have your bad days, but I’ve always tried to be strong, well I’m strong. I think that now it would be to achieve it in a healthy way and to be able to enjoy commercial things without the pressures of having to train afterwards, to enjoy being back with your family, just to relax. So that will be my biggest achievement, I’m looking forward to it.’

There are several big fights that fans want to see before Joshua ends his career. They’d love to see AJ take on long-term rivals Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury before hanging up the gloves.

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has already revealed that negotiations are underway for a heavyweight showdown with Wilder.

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn (above) has already revealed that negotiations are underway for a heavyweight showdown with Deontay Wilder.

listen said above iFLTV: ‘The lines of communication are good between me and [Wilder’s manager] Shelley Finkel.

‘We have had many conversations, many chats. Until the training team for AJ is confirmed. We won’t make opponent selections because we want the coach’s opinion.’

Hearn added: “We’ve got three or four guys that we’re talking to and ready to try and make a move.”