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Four opponents Anthony Joshua must fight before he retires, including Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder and Dillian Whyte

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ANTHONY JOSHUA’s legacy will be defined by the fights he takes, and wins, in the next five years.

The former unified heavyweight champion of the world revealed he intends to hang up his gloves before he hits the wrong side of 40.

Anthony Joshua celebrates his KO over Kubrat PulevCredit: AP
Anthony Joshua plans to retire from boxing well before he hits 40Credit: PA

Two years ago, the 33-year-old told Sky Sports: “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.”

For Joshua to be seen as a true heavyweight great, he must first see off all the remaining challengers in the division.

And there are five men, in particular, AJ has to trade leather with before it’s all said and done.

Tyson Fury

A fight with Tyson Fury is one British boxing fans have been itching to see for years. And it was in the works until Deontay Wilder won a legal case for a trilogy fight.

But talks were made, so technically all that remained was for a venue and date to be finalised for a potential £500million showpiece.

However, Joshua’s defeat to Oleksandr Usyk scuppered those plans.

Deontay Wilder

There’s simply been too much trash talk between Joshua and Wilder for this fight not to come to fruition.

The pair were at loggerheads long before Fury returned to the fray, although Wilder hasn’t mentioned his fellow Olympian for some time now.

Stylistically, Joshua vs Fury is a fascinating match-up that has all the ingredients to be an absolute fire fight.

And despite Wilder’s emphatic dethroning at the hands of Fury, there’s still some fan interest in the match-up.

Andy Ruiz Jr

Like it or not, Joshua still has a score to settle with Andy Ruiz Jr – the man responsible for handing him his first professional loss.

There was no doubting he was the better man in their rematch in Saudi Arabia in December 2019.

But with the score level at one win apiece, can he truly say he’s better than Mexico’s first heavyweight champion without sharing the ring with him again?

And let’s not forget the condition Ruiz Jr – who had clearly been enjoying the high life after his stunning upset win – came in for his second showdown with AJ.

Despite the dominant nature of his Saudi revenge job, Joshua has to run this one back again.

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Anthony Joshua put on a clinic in his rematch with Andy Ruiz JrCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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Dillian Whyte

While we’re on the topic of trilogy fights, Joshua still needs to settle the score with fellow Brit Dillian Whyte.

If you count their amateur meeting in 2009, the series between Joshua and Whyte is level.

One could argue there’s no cause for a third fight as Joshua brutally knocked out The Bodysnatcher in their 2015 showdown.

But given the improvements Whyte has made since that setback, with the exception of his loss to Alexander Povetkin, a third fight with AJ is still marketable.

And I’m sure there’s few things Joshua would love more than to silence his domestic rival once and for all.

Anthony Joshua knocked out Dillian Whyte in December 2015Credit: Getty
Anthony Joshua ‘locked in’ as he trains for potential Tyson Fury blockbuster in weighted vest and chains

Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk

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