Anthony Joshua’s 100 MILLION reasons not to retire: He’s battered and bruised but AJ, 34, has Saudi cash to pick up, contracts for three more years of fighting – and still wants redemption

Saturday night’s knockout loss to Daniel Dubois had led to speculation that Anthony Joshua might have to retire. However, there are 100 million reasons why this won’t be the end of his legendary career.

Dubois knocked out AJ in the fifth round in front of 98,000 fans at Wembley on Saturday in a shocking result that left many wondering if it would be the end for one of the biggest names in British boxing.

The IBF world heavyweight title defeat not only left the 34-year-old Joshua sprawled on the canvas, but also left him wondering how he could recover and continue with his sport.

But Joshua is unlikely to retire from boxing, despite criticism from pundits and fans, many of whom have suggested he is done. The Olympic gold medallist said after the fight that he would continue, and he doubled down on his commitment in an Instagram post on Monday.

There are several factors that point to AJ wanting to continue his career, from contractual obligations to his personal drive to continue his legacy in the sport.

Contractual ties with Saudi Arabia

A major reason why Joshua will not be leaving the ring is his contractual commitment to the Saudi Riyadh season.

The Riyadh season and the Saudi sporting world have become a lucrative market for high-profile boxing matches, and Joshua is at the forefront.

Joshua has signed a contract to fight again in the 2019-2020 season in Riyadh, meaning AJ will most likely step into the ring at least one more time under the controversial Saudi Arabian flag.

AJ is hitting record highs by participating in the Riyadh season, further reducing the chances of him leaving.

According to sources, Joshua is said to have earned £9 million for his fight against Otto Wallin and £38 million for his fight against Francis Ngannou. ALS.

Fury, who was sidelined for AJ’s defeat to Dubois, joked after the fight that AJ had cost him £150million – the amount they would pocket for a potential British blockbuster.

In an exclusive column for Mail Sport, boxing legend Johnny Nelson said money was the only reason AJ would continue to fight, as the fees involved had never been so lucrative.

Deal with Matchroom and DAZN

Joshua’s business commitments further complicate any thoughts of retirement. He is currently two years into a £100million-a-year, five-year deal with DAZN.

In addition, the 34-year-old boxer has signed a lifetime contract with Matchroom Boxing, Eddie Hearn’s promotional house.

If you stop boxing at this point, it not only means you are quitting boxing, but also renegotiating or losing out on lucrative business opportunities.

It’s much more likely that Joshua will see out his contract with DAZN and cash in as much as possible from Matchroom before calling it a day.

It remains to be seen whether AJ’s deal with Matchroom guarantees Joshua a future in the sport beyond his in-ring career, through promotional work or other boxing-related activities.

The desire to further strengthen his legacy

At 34, Joshua’s career has been full of highs and lows, but he is undoubtedly still driven by his desire to build on his boxing legacy.

One of the key ways he can achieve this is by finally defeating his heavyweight rivals Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder.

Despite setbacks, including Dubois’ demolition job, the public and media are still clamoring for a Joshua vs. Fury showdown in what would be one of the biggest fights in British boxing history.

Both Joshua and Fury have expressed interest in a fight, and it is unlikely that Joshua will retire without having taken another chance on his domestic rival.

Joshua has also indicated that he is still interested in taking on Wilder, despite the Bronze Bomber losing back-to-back bouts to Joseph Parker and Zhilei ZHang.

Redemption and resilience

Throughout his career, Joshua has shown that he can bounce back from defeat. His defeats to Andy Ruiz Jr. and Oleksandr Usyk were followed by successful attempts to rebuild and improve his performance in the ring.

Joshua jumped straight back into a rematch with Ruiz Jr and emerged victorious. He also defeated Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin and Francis Ngannou after his second loss to Usyk.

Although the above mentioned matches were not considered credible opponents before the match against Dubois, they did show that AJ can run himself from pillar to post and build himself up again.

Joshua has always had a strong connection to the sport and has repeatedly stated that he enjoys the process of training, learning and improving.

The defeat against Dubois will be a motivation for Joshua to rehabilitate himself, prove his doubters wrong and restore his position among boxing’s top fighters.

His love for boxing

Above all, Joshua’s love of boxing will likely keep him in the sport. His passion for fighting and his continued dedication to the craft suggest he won’t be leaving anytime soon.

He has often spoken of his respect for the sport and the lifestyle that comes with it. Retiring would mean leaving behind something that has been an essential part of his life for over a decade. Joshua still has unfinished business in the ring and his love for the sport will drive him to keep fighting.