British-Nigerian boxing champion Anthony Joshua has sent a clear message to his heavyweight competitors, vowing to “come back with a bang” and “take the division by storm” upon his return to the ring.
The former two-time unified heavyweight champion, who will turn 36 in October, has not fought since suffering a knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois last September. In a recent statement, Joshua attributed his lengthy absence from the sport to a focus on rest and recovery, following elbow surgery in May to address a long-standing injury.
“This (boxing) is my life,” Joshua stated during an event hosted by his promoters, Matchroom, where new branding was unveiled by the company fronted by Eddie Hearn.
“For the first time in over a decade, I took a year off to get my body right. I’m at a different stage of my career and can now view time differently. I don’t have endless years ahead of me, so I have to make careful decisions regarding my next steps.”
When asked about potential opponents for his return, Joshua remained tight-lipped yet reaffirmed his intention to make a impactful comeback: “The minute I return, it won’t be just about going through the motions. I’m coming back fully active and ready to seize the heavyweight division.”
During his recovery period, the 35-year-old has shared moments with fans on social media, highlighting his recent trips to Nigeria and Ghana.
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Joshua’s warning comes at a time of increased activity within the heavyweight division. His long-time rival Deontay Wilder recently recorded a lackluster victory over Tyrrell Herndon, while Jarrell Miller has claimed that Joshua turned down four opportunities to fight him in the past month.
Additionally, Joshua has engaged in a war of words with Jake Paul, the YouTuber-turned-boxer. Paul revealed in a recent interview that he and Joshua had exchanged private messages, where Joshua issued a strong warning after Paul mocked him over his previous knockout losses.
“He said, ‘I can’t wait to fight. You’re gonna be fighting for your life, and you’ll know the feeling that I’ve gone through,’” Paul said, fueling speculation about a potential future showdown between the two, which Paul expressed a desire to take place in a charged atmosphere in Britain.
