Johnny Nelson believes Anthony Joshua should call time on his boxing career.
Joshua has not fought since his brutal knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in 2024. The 35-year-old was preparing for a summer 2025 return, but an elbow injury that required surgery kept him out of action. Following rehab, Joshua is now back in training and considering his comeback options.
But Nelson, the former cruiserweight world champion, insists Joshua has nothing left to prove.
“I don’t think it was ever going to happen, even when Jake Paul was calling him out and Eddie [Hearn] tried to hype it,” Nelson said. “For Joshua, and I say this with love, he’s got nothing more to prove in boxing. He should walk away rather than wait for someone else to finish him.
“People are tired of the endless talk about a fight with Tyson Fury, and the truth is, Joshua is already wealthy and comfortable. He doesn’t need to keep going.”
Still, Joshua seems unwilling to bow out just yet. With a record of 28-4, he reportedly intends to step into the ring at least twice more. Promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed that Joshua won’t be rushing back but will spend the rest of 2025 training hard.
The Watford heavyweight is expected to face a top-15 opponent in early 2026. While a fight with Jake Paul has long been teased, it remains outside that category, leaving questions over whether the bout will ever materialise.
Paul, however, has repeatedly insisted that he and Joshua still plan to meet in the ring “when the time is right.”
