Anthony Joshua questioned by Two Weight World Champion Timothy Bradley – “He doesn’t have that same fire anymore!” “He should definitely think about retirement!”
Former Two Division World Champion Timothy Bradley has questioned Anthony Joshua’s commitment to the sport in a recent interview.
Tim Bradley spoke to Tris Dixon recently for his Boxing Life Stories podcast series recently, in which the subject of walking away from boxing was discussed.
The conversation quickly moved to Anthony Joshua and his career continuing. Bradley immediately questioned AJ’s reasons for staying in boxing, asking “Is it the love for the sport? Is it the money? What’s driving him?”
Bradley went on to praise Joshua, stating “He has money, he’s accomplished many titles.”
He then stated “Joshua for me, he once was a talented fighter, and I think mentally, from the outside looking in, he enjoys the light of being famous, and he enjoys the money that comes along with the business, I don’t think he really enjoys the sport of boxing”
Bradley continued his 3 minute monologue by stating “he doesn’t have that killer instinct that I saw in him when he fought Klitschko and Dillian Whyte, he doesn’t have that same fire in his eyes anymore.”
‘Desert Storm’ related this to his own retirement, adding “I lost the fire, i’m not going to lie. I couldn’t stand getting my face beat up anymore. I couldn’t stand going to hospital after every fight. I couldn’t stand getting up in the morning and going to run” he continued “I got sick and tired of it, and I was like ‘Im done with this. I don’t want to do this anymore”
He continued this segment by stating that Joshua “Should definitely think about [retirement], it’s a talk he needs to have with himself. But again I think his motivation is the money, but you have to know when enough is enough.”
In conclusion Bradley stated “I think if Joshua was to have another downfall, another loss, I think he’ll be done after that.”
Joshua is rumoured to be returning to the ring in August, but with Dillian Whyte off the table due to unrealistic monetary demands.
Matchroom allegedly offered former title challenger Dillian Whyte around £3,000,000 to face Joshua on August 12 in London live on DAZN Pay-per-view.
Whyte earnt a career high payday of £5,500,000 to face WBC Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury last April on a historic night at Wembley Stadium in front of 94,000 fans.
The Brixton-based contender is requesting a purse of around £10,000,000 to face long-time rival Joshua in August, a number that is almost double his purse for Fury.
Plans for Anthony Joshua haven’t been decided yet. It is likely that he remains fighting in the middle of August against a world-ranked Heavyweight but it may also be the case that Joshua’s fight is pushed backed or scrapped altogether.
The pair first met in an amateur bout in 2009 where Whyte dropped and decisioned the man who went on to win Olympic Gold in London three years later. In 2015, they fought again at London’s O2 Arena and this time Joshua inflicted revenge with a 7th-round KO of the year contender.
Joshua could sit out until december this year with a hotly anticipated bout with former WBC champion and power puncher Deontay Wilder rumoured for Saudi Arabia.
Promoter Eddie Hearn claimed this month that he had received an offer the Wilder fight, however no contract had been presented to him.
The bout will be one of Joshua’s biggest pay days with the Saudis potentially bankrolling a mega card with Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk, Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder, and Francis Ngannou vs Derek Chisora all potential bouts.
Read more about Joshua vs Whyte: https://nosmokesport.com/boxing/anthony-joshua-dillian-whyte-the-7-million/
Listen to the full interview with Tris Dixon: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4P0mhUZl1E00j8fxgh5M97?si=4db5bd3cc7b64fc5