Anthony Joshua Teases MMA Move as Former Heavyweight Champion Provides Retirement Update

Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has hinted at a potential move into mixed martial arts before he eventually calls time on his combat sports career.

The British boxing star, who has already achieved multiple world titles and Olympic gold during his illustrious career, recently opened up about his future plans and revealed that retirement may still be several years away.

Joshua has been the subject of retirement speculation in recent years, particularly following his defeat to Daniel Dubois and a lengthy spell away from competition. However, the 36-year-old has now suggested he intends to continue fighting until at least the age of 40.

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Joshua Interested in Testing Himself in MMA

Speaking on Ring Magazine’s Mr Versace podcast, Joshua admitted he has considered stepping into the MMA cage as a way of returning the favor to fighters who have crossed over into boxing.

Combat sports have seen numerous crossover bouts in recent years, with former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou boxing both Tyson Fury and Joshua. The Brit famously stopped Ngannou in the second round of their 2024 clash.

Joshua explained that the idea of competing under MMA rules has crossed his mind.

“Believe me, I was thinking, why don’t I step over into one of their territories because they keep on coming to our territory?” Joshua said.

He added that crossover fights involving elite athletes from different disciplines create major interest among fans and can be good for business.

Joshua also pointed out that MMA and kickboxing champions who move into boxing are far from inexperienced fighters, making the challenge even more intriguing.

Retirement Not Yet on the Horizon

While Joshua acknowledged that he is entering the latter stages of his career, he made it clear that retirement is not an immediate concern.

The former unified heavyweight champion is scheduled to face Albanian contender Kristian Prenga on July 25 before a long-awaited showdown with Tyson Fury later this year.

Should those plans materialize, Joshua could still have several major fights remaining before considering retirement.

Who Could Joshua Face?

Joshua stated that if he were to make the move to MMA, he would want a high-profile opponent to ensure the event carries significant commercial appeal.

“100 percent I’d want a big name opponent,” Joshua said.

He also maintained that boxing remains the pinnacle of combat sports but believes crossover contests between elite athletes from different disciplines are likely to become even more common in the future.

Whether Joshua ever steps into an MMA cage remains to be seen, but his comments have already sparked discussion among fight fans about how one of boxing’s biggest stars would fare under a completely different ruleset.