Anthony Joshua will NOT be returning to the ring in 2022, according to Boxing Scene.
Joshua, fresh off of a second defeat to Oleksandr Usyk, entered fight talks with Tyson Fury in hope of organising a heavyweight title challenge for December of this year.
However, fight talks between the parties collapsed, with Fury instead signing a contract to fight Derek Chisora. It feels improbable that Fury ever wanted to fight Joshua, really.
Nevertheless, It left AJ without an opponent and without any definitive plans for his next fight. It now appears unlikely we’ll see him in the ring before the end of the calendar year.
According to Boxing Scene, the collapse in talks between Joshua’s representatives and Fury’s leaves it looking highly unlikely that the former unified champion will fight again in 2022.
Joshua will instead be taking more time to decide on the next steps for his career. He will know full well that any further setbacks will permanently take him out of title contention.
The 2012 Olympic champion needs to take a few steps back, consider his shortfalls and determine what the next course of action ought to be. It’s good to hear he will not be rushing back.
