Did Anthony Joshua retire from boxing, as social media users claim?

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Cole Praise

Claim: A Facebook user claims Anthony Joshua has retired from boxing.

Verdict: False. Findings indicate that the clip purportedly showing Joshua announcing his retirement from boxing is actually from his 2022 post-match conference following his defeat to Oleksandr Usyk. Furthermore, neither the athlete nor reputable news outlets have publicly announced his alleged retirement. 

Full Text

Less than a week after Christmas 2025, former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua was involved in a ghastly auto crash in Makun, Ogun State.

The accident occurred when the Lexus Jeep carrying him, with the number plate KRD 850 HN, crashed into a stationary truck, killing two people, and causing the athlete to sustain a few minor injuries. 

Against this backdrop, a Facebook user, Chike Jnr Okongwu, shared several clips of Joshua and claimed that the world-renowned boxer has decided to retire from boxing, due to the accident that claimed the lives of his friends.

“Omo!! Anthony Joshua announces his retirement from Boxing in Honour of his late friends,” the Facebook user wrote.

We found similar claims shared here and here. 

As of Saturday, Jan 4, 2026, the post had garnered over 59 likes, 12 comments, and 3,000 views. 

While some other Facebook users consoled the athlete, others dismissed the video as inauthentic.

“So sad, my brother,” Onyeka Alaribe sympathised.

“So sad,” Okoro Precious wrote.

“Fake news,” Chiemeze Ugochukwu Anyaeji commented.

Given the claim’s sensitivity and its potential to misinform the public, DUBAWA decided to verify it. 

Verification

DUBAWA conducted a keyword search related to the claim; however, no credible news outlet (local or international) has reported the alleged retirement of the former heavyweight champion. 

We also checked Joshua’s official X, Facebook, and Instagram handles and noticed that he has not made any public announcement about his alleged retirement.  

We further analysed the viral interview session shared by social media users (as seen here and here), which seemingly declared his retirement, and discovered that the clip is originally from a 2022 post-fight conference. 

As viewed here, here, and here, Joshua reacted, rather emotionally, to the loss of his rematch with Ukrainian heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk, declaring that “I’m upset, really like deep down in my heart.”

This video does not speak to his retirement.

Conclusion

Careful findings show that the viral clip of Joshua announcing his retirement is from a 2022 post-match conference following his defeat to Usyk. Furthermore, no reputable news outlet has publicly announced his alleged retirement.