Anthony Joshua's boxing career has hit a rough patch, leaving his future in the sport uncertain. The former heavyweight champion now ranks 49th in Boxing News' list of the 50 most powerful figures in boxing, a far cry from his previous status.
Joshua's recent struggles started with a shocking loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. in 2019. He then faced back-to-back defeats against Oleksandr Usyk. Despite bouncing back with four straight wins, Joshua's momentum came to a grinding halt in 2024. Daniel Dubois knocked him out in the fifth round at Wembley Stadium, dealing a brutal blow to his career.
Now in 2025, Joshua's attempts to get back into big fights haven't panned out. A bout with Tyson Fury seemed like a sure thing, but with Fury staying "retired," Joshua's left in limbo. His boxing future and legacy are now up for debate.
Boxing News recently ranked Joshua 49th in their list of the sport's most influential figures. This low ranking has sparked outrage among some in the boxing community.
Sam Jones, who joined Daniel Dubois' team as a manager last August, couldn't hide his frustration with Joshua's ranking. He said:
"Anthony Joshua at #49 is an insult, mate. He's top five, top 10. The least you can put him is top 10. He's carried British boxing - with Tyson Fury as well, Tyson's been huge as well - but Anthony Joshua could pack a stadium out now if he wanted to. That's influence on British boxing, that's called influence. AJ, you can't disrespect him like that...The AJ one is baffling."
Joshua still has the star power to fill a stadium. But he's no longer seen as the larger-than-life figure he once was. Along with Tyson Fury, Joshua played a huge role in boosting British boxing's popularity. His current struggles have left fans wondering what's next for the former champ.
