ANTHONY JOSHUA prefers business over boxing, claims heavyweight rival Dillian Whyte.
The British star, 31, beat Kubrat Pulev last month to set up an undisputed world title fight with Tyson Fury.
Anthony Joshua will earn around £73m from his fight with Tyson FuryCredit: PA:Press Association
Dillian Whyte lost to Anthony Joshua in 2015Credit: Getty Images – Getty
But Whyte reckons AJ is losing his ‘drive and desire’ amid talks of his retirement.
The Body Snatcher told Sky Sports: “Maybe he’s comfortable, maybe his drive and desire is going down.
“He seems to be fighting a lot more defensively than he used to do.
“Maybe he’s thinking, ‘You know what, I haven’t got long left, it’s a hard game.’
“When you achieve everything you’ve set out to achieve and you’ve got lots of money, sometimes you think, ‘You know what, let me just retire and go and do something else.’
“He doesn’t strike me as someone who loves fighting.
“He loves the business and he loves the opportunities.
“Obviously he’s a good athlete and a good boxer, but he doesn’t strike me as someone who loves to fight.
“I love fighting. I enjoy fighting for the sake of fighting. That’s why I’ll fight anyone and I’m always ready to go.”
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WBA, WBO and IBF title holder Joshua has confirmed he will retire within five years.
SunSport have identified five opponents that he must fight before he hangs up his gloves.
AJ told Sky Sports: “This isn’t the start of my career. I’m coming towards the end of my career.
“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.”
Joshua is set to fight Fury next, with a location already agreed for the Battle of Britain.
Anthony Joshua knocked out Dillian Whyte in the seventh roundCredit: Action Images – Reuters
But legendary promoter Bob Arum confirmed a date for the fight is yet to be decided.
After AJ faces Fury, Whyte wants another shot at the former Olympic champion.
Whyte beat Joshua as an amateur before AJ won the professional rematch in 2015.
When asked if AJ will want to fight him for a third time, he said: “He definitely should do.
“Why shouldn’t he? Currently, it’s one all. I look forward to the third fight in the future.
“However, I can’t say what he wants and what he doesn’t want.”
Whyte is preparing for his rematch with Alexander Povetkin after he lost to the Russian veteran in August.
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Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
