According to a British boxing great, it must be win-or-bust when it comes to negotiations for Anthony Joshua’s return to the ring next year.
Expected widely to make good on a return to action as soon as 2026, former two-time heavyweight gold holder Anthony Joshua has been most heavily tied to a historic showdown at the beginning of the year.
And while a host of opponents have been sounded out for the Watford star, Joshua has so far failed to book that planned comeback in the early goings of 2026.
According to a boxing compatriot, if a specific matchup continues to elude Joshua, questions must be asked regarding an immediate retirement.
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Anthony Joshua urged to fight Tyson Fury or retire
Namely, a matchup which has failed time and time again on the British Isles is a long-mooted clash of Joshua and fellow former world champion Tyson Fury.
Struggling so far to get both men standing opposite each other in the ring, hope for a grudge match between Joshua and Fury was given breath earlier this year, with Eddie Hearn confirming his plan to finally broker a deal between the duo as soon as next summer.
However, as far as former cruiserweight stalwart Johnny Nelson is concerned, if Joshua is coming back to fight anybody but Fury, he should just hang up his gloves at this stage of his career.
“I think Anthony Joshua has nothing else to prove in this game, and he should rather walk away than hang about and let someone turn him over,” Nelson told talkSPORT.
“It’s either him and Tyson Fury, which we’re all sick of, is it happening or isn’t happening, or just walk out of it. He’s a very comfortable, wealthy man.”
Anthony Joshua’s brash callout of Tyson Fury
On a collision course since their respective title reigns in the 2010s, Joshua and Fury have failed to battle it out for British supremacy in the ring.
And seemingly on the cards prior to Joshua’s devastating knockout loss to Daniel Dubois a year ago, Fury boldly claimed the defeat to Dubois cost him a staggering payday.
Gearing up for a return to the ring, Joshua claimed he hoped his first venture to the squared circle would come against the Morecambe star — who he predicted he would handily beat.