Anthony Joshua reveals he is still emotionally ‘hurting’ following his second straight defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in August
Following his second consecutive loss to Oleksandr Usyk, Anthony Joshua has admitted he is still ‘hurting’ emotionally.
The British-Nigerian boxer, who had already lost his WBA, WBO, and IBF titles to the Ukrainian genius in September of last year, was defeated by Oleksandr Usyk for the second time in a row in August.
Joshua claims that his emotions are “affecting his ring action” and that the fact that he is no longer the champion “hurts.” He yet asserts that he will be “ready to battle again next year.”
Joshua said to DAZN that his life was hard. For me, boxing has become quite challenging.
While I’m boxing, everyone is just trying to maximize their time, and they’re doing a terrific job of it.
But it does affect my ring activity. So I’m just always trying to push that stuff away. It’s a challenge. I’m just trying to get it out the way this year, so next year I can just focus.
‘I’m not champion and it’s just hurting a lot. So I’m in the gym rebuilding and restructuring everything I have to do inside and outside of the ring.
‘There is a lot that goes on outside the ring in my life which makes my ring life complicated.
‘So I just need to simplify a lot of stuff outside the ring and then I can put my full attention in the ring. And once I’ve got that done, next year I’ll be ready.’
He has since been linked with a potential fight against Deontay Wilder in 2023 – with Eddie Hearn confirming both parties have entered talks over a potential deal.
However, AJ has remained coy over his future. He said he doesn’t ‘want to make statements and then get held to the cross’.
He told DAZN: ‘I don’t know [when I’ll be back]. I was supposed to be in the ring this year, I’m going to be in the ring next year.
‘I’ll be in the ring when I’m in the ring. I don’t want to make statements today and then I’ll get held to the cross. Do you know what I mean? When I’m ready, I’ll be back in the ring.’