British boxer Anthony Joshua says he will retire from boxing if he loses against Jermaine Franklin this Saturday at the O2 Arena.
The two-time world champion is making his return to the ring this weekend to face the American heavyweight after successive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk.
Joshua will be looking to win his first professional fight since December 2020 but has admitted he will step away from boxing if he loses a third successive bout.
Former WBO cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson also expects Joshua to beat Franklin but thinks the 33-year-old should retire if he loses.
Anthony Joshua has also sensationally said Tyson Fury can redeem himself from the circus of a collapsed undisputed heavyweight bout by agreeing to fight him.
Talks between Oleksandr Usyk, the WBO, WBA (Super) and IBF champion, and WBC title-holder Fury broke down last week.
Joshua, who faces American Jermaine Franklin on Saturday in his first bout in 2023, says he wants an all-British fight with Fury whatever the outcome against Franklin at the O2 Arena.
Joshua was in talks with his British rival over a fight last year following successive losses to Usyk, but could not reach an agreement and Fury fought Derek Chisora at Wembley Stadium in December instead.
Fury then set his sights on facing 36-year-old Usyk in what would have been the first undisputed heavyweight contest since 1999.
But after weeks of negotiations, both parties announced an agreement could not be reached due to a dispute over the terms of a potential rematch.