Anthony Joshua drops retirement hint as Tyson Fury fight talks continue

The unified world heavyweight champion has shared his plan before he hangs up his gloves

Anthony Joshua admits he only has five more years and then he will retire from boxing.

The unified world heavyweight champion has been boxing for more than seven years with 25 fights in total.

The Briton is still looking to become the undisputed champion in his division, for the first time since Lennox Lewis in 1999, with that opportunity possible this year against Tyson Fury, who holds the WBC belt, the only title the former Olympic champion does not possess.

READ MORE: Anthony Joshua offers fresh hope Tyson Fury fight will happen next

And Joshua has now conceded there is a specific plan for the remaining years of his career inside the ring.  

"This isn't the start of my career. I'm coming towards the end of my career," Joshua told Sky Sports. "I'm not someone who lives in the moment and thinks that everything is just like for now. I'm always planning ahead so I'm coming towards the end of my career.

"Five years left and that's basically an Olympic cycle. I've got an Olympic cycle and a little bit more left, so when you see the next Olympics happen is when I'll be coming to the end of my career and the next generation will be coming through."

Joshua adds the motivation to fight is for therapeutic reasons and that he has nothing to prove.

“A lot of the great champions are continuing, and continuing. I ain't boxing for money, I ain't boxing for fame, I ain't boxing for a belt. I'm boxing because it keeps me mentally happy and I like to do it,” Joshua added.

“Nothing to prove to anybody. Not one thing to prove at all, but I box now, because I love boxing and I've been doing it all my life. Why walk away when I'm still only young?

“Hopefully I box until I have a good sit down with all the team and we all decide it's time to walk away, while I'm on top, and then sail away into the sunset."