Anthony Joshua: Outburst after Oleksandr Usyk rematch defeat down to 'ego' and 'pride'

Anthony Joshua expressed remorse for his outburst that came after he lost his heavyweight title to Oleksandr Usyk in their rematch last year.

After his loss to Usyk in August 2022, Joshua tossed Usyk's world title belts out of the boxing ring. Then, he took the mic and delivered a stunning speech.

Looking back at the event while being interviewed by Louis Theroux on the BBC on Tuesday evening, Joshua expressed, "It was a manifestation of my ego and pride."

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I was the one who reintroduced the heavyweight division - it was my doing. Whether it was the right decision or not, I may have been mistaken...

I chucked the belts because it seemed like the right thing to do. Then, I snatched up the microphone and spoke to the audience. In retrospect, I could have handled the situation more skillfully.

After engaging in a 12-round fight, I found myself feeling disheartened and vexed. It became clear to me that I was no longer in contention for the title.

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AJ Feels Pressured To Regain Title: Maybe It's Time To Quit

Joshua expressed how his perspective towards the sport has changed over time since he attained the title of a professional athlete, subsequent to clinching the Olympic Gold medal at London in the year 2012.

When discussing the burden of attempting to claim the heavyweight championship title three times, Joshua conveyed that it is an overwhelming amount of pressure. He even went as far as suggesting that he should cease his efforts if he cannot manage the stress.

He commented that there is a common belief that has been established and it causes him stress. It used to be a leisure activity but now it has become serious. If somebody is doing it because they love it, they are seen as a potential candidate.

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He stated: "My entire life revolves around this, it's the only thing I'm knowledgeable about and devoted to."

"Is reaching the championship my goal? Absolutely. However, I'm going to be strategic in achieving it. My knowledge of boxing has progressed significantly. Furthermore, I'm continuously working to enhance my skills in the sport."

Starting out from the beginning and reaching my goals is a continuous journey that is never complete.

The pressure of potentially becoming a three-time world champion is overwhelming. I may need to consider quitting if I can't handle it.

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In August, Joshua won his last bout against Robert Helenius by knocking him out in the seventh round. He has expressed that his next preferred rival is Tyson Fury, the WBC heavyweight champion, in a match between British fighters.

When Joshua was asked how he would feel about battling and triumphing over Fury, he answered, "I would be absolutely thrilled," and then continued, "It presents a challenge, but one that I am prepared to tackle."

Tune in to Sky Sports Arena on Saturday November 18 to see Adam Azim take on Franck Petitjean in a heated battle for the European super-lightweight title, and Tyler Denny face off against Matteo Signani for the European middleweight championship. Don't miss out on the thrilling action!

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