Anthony Joshua is planning a "last run" at the heavyweight title, saying he hopes to become a three-time champion before he turns 35.
The Englishman takes on Jermaine Franklin at London's O2 Arena on Saturday, his first ring appearance since losing for a second time to Oleksandr Usyk last summer.
Joshua, who is 34 in October, admitted he craved the respect afforded by his peers for being champion as he looks to join the great Muhammad Ali as the only heavyweight to win titles on three occasions.
“It’s been a great run,” Joshua, the former WBA, WBO and IBF belt-holder admitted.
“The thing is, I do and I did want respect from people in the industry that I admire, ex-legends in the game and when you’re not a champion any more you feel like that goes away.
“So, that was definitely something I was yearning for, is the respect from ex-champions and ... but it’s all good. We move forward. I’m not really doing it for that purpose any more because I’m not in that position, but the desire? One is definitely to become champion, which I think is possible within the next 16 months.
“I think we’ve got to see what happens this year with the belts. Let them be competed for and then potentially let them go up in the air and then we’ll see where the belts land. Then just stay consistent, stay focused on improving for these next 12 to 16 months while I’m in title contention.”
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Anthony Joshua looks angry after losing against Oleksandr Usyk in their world heavyweight bout on a split decision at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in August. Getty -
Oleksandr Usyk after retaining his world heavyweight titles in a split decision against Anthony Joshua at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. PA -
Oleksandr Usyk celebrates winning his fight against Anthony Joshua. Action Images -
Oleksandr Usyk after winning in Jeddah. PA -
Oleksandr Usyk reacts after his victory. PA -
Anthony Joshua speaks to the crowd following his defeat against Oleksandr Usyk in Jeddah. Getty -
Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk touch gloves at the end of the fight. PA -
Oleksandr Usyk celebrates with his belts and his team. Getty -
Oleksandr Usyk celebrates after retaining his world heavyweight titles. PA -
Oleksandr Usyk celebrates with the flag of Ukraine. Getty -
Oleksandr Usyk after winning his fight against Anthony Joshua. Action Images -
Oleksandr Usyk after winning his fight against Anthony Joshua. Action Images -
Anthony Joshua on the front foot against Oleksandr Usyk. PA -
Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk trade punches. Getty -
Anthony Joshua evades a right. Getty -
Oleksandr Usyk after receiving a low blow. Action Images -
Oleksandr Usyk lands a right on Anthony Joshua. Getty -
Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk in action at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium in Jeddah. PA -
The ring is cleaned between rounds. Reuters -
Anthony Joshua evades a punch from Oleksandr Usyk. Getty -
Anthony Joshua with a body shot. Action Images -
Oleksandr Usyk throws a right. Action Images -
Oleksandr Usyk in action against Anthony Joshua. Action Images -
Anthony Joshua made a low-key entrance at King Abdullah Sports City Arena in Jeddah. Getty -
Anthony Joshua and promoter Eddie Hearn before the fight. PA
Two of Joshua’s most recent wins have come against boxers who went on to fight into their forties in Kubrat Pulev and Alexander Povetkin.
Meanwhile, Wladimir Klitschko was 41 when Joshua beat him in stunning fashion at Wembley in 2016 but the former Olympic champion does not envisage himself following in their footsteps and hinted he could walk away if he can reign supreme one more time in the heavyweight division.
Joshua added: “This run is like, what can it go on for? Three, four years?
“If I was going to do another run after this, you’re talking about fighting into my forties and I truly believe that boxing’s a young man’s sport.
“It takes a real solid character like Bernard Hopkins, [George] Foreman, Klitschko, Povetkin to go on into their forties and stuff, but I think this is a run I want to make successful and then, you know, hopefully go out on top.”
Changes have been made after Usyk inflicted a third defeat of Joshua’s professional career last August.
Derrick James is the British boxer’s new trainer – after Robert Garcia departed following one fight – and the “main voice” according to the two-time heavyweight champion, which was in contrast before his second clash with Usyk when Garcia and Angel Fernandez were both feeding him information.
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Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk square off in the ring after Fury retained his WBC heavyweight world title with a 10th-round TKO win over Derek Chisora at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on December 3, 2022. Reuters -
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk square off inside the ring at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Getty -
Tyson Fury celebrates with his team and son after winning his fight against Derek Chisora. Reuters -
Tyson Fury celebrates with his team and son after beating Derek Chisora. Reuters -
Tyson Fury lands a punch on Derek Chisora during their bout for the WBC heavyweight title. EPA -
Tyson Fury lands a punch on Derek Chisora during their WBC heavyweight world title fight. Reuters -
Derek Chisora throws a punch at Tyson Fury during their bout for the WBC heavyweight title. EPA -
Tyson Fury and Derek Chisora during the bout at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. EPA -
Referee Victor Loughlin stops the fight in the 10th round. EPA -
Tyson Fury and Derek Chisora embrace after the fight. Reuters -
Tyson Fury interacts with Joe Joyce after his win over Derek Chisor. Getty -
Tyson Fury and Derek Chisora pose together for photos after their fight at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Getty -
Tyson Fury celebrates victory after retaining his WBC heavyweight world title. Getty -
Tyson Fury celebrates as he leaves the ring after winning his fight against Derek Chisora. Reuters
A victory for Joshua, whose record stands at 24 wins with three losses, could propel him quickly back into title contention.
The much-anticipated heavyweight unification bout between Usyk and WBC-title-holder Tyson Fury appears to be off with the Ukrainian's promoter blaming “unacceptable” demands made by the British fighter.
The duo had reportedly agreed to an April 29 fight at London's Wembley Stadium with a purse split 70-30 in Fury's favour but other terms were still to be decided.
Fury's promoter Frank Warren, though, remains confident that an agreement can still be reached with the only stumbling block appearing to be over the rematch clause.
