Dillian Whyte Questions Anthony Joshua’s Desire Amid Retirement Talk

Dillian Whyte has questioned the desire of his former foe Anthony Joshua who despite holding three world titles has recently been talking about retirement.

Joshua, who scored a seventh-round knockout win over Whyte in 2015 admitted he has five years (at most) left in boxing. ‘The Body Snatcher’ believes ‘AJ’ talking about retirement is evidence Joshua is lacking the desire needed to be an elite-level boxer.

“Maybe he’s comfortable, maybe his drive and desire is going down,” Whyte told Sky Sports. “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.’

Whyte believes Joshua is more of a businessman than a fighter at this point.

“He doesn’t strike me as someone who loves fighting,” Whyte said. “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.”

Whyte is set to rematch Alexander Povetkin who scored a spectacular upset win over the Englishman in round five of their August 2020 pay-per-view event.

Joshua is currently in talks for an undisputed fight with fellow heavyweight titleholder Tyson Fury. ‘AJ’ looked great in his last fight. A mandatory defence of his IBF title against Kubrat Pulev who he battered for nine rounds before forcing the stoppage.

Do you agree with Dillian Whyte? Is Anthony Joshua talking about retirement a sign he now lacks the desire to fight?