Joshua, who faces Kristian Prenga in Riyadh on July 25, reflected on his journey ahead of his return during a recent interview.
“I always think to myself, how much better can I be? That’s why I keep going because I want to look back and say I gave it my all,” Joshua told Ring Magazine.
“I think that when I look back on my career so far, I want to give more. I wish I had given more.”
The comments are likely to spark debate among boxing fans, many of whom have long questioned whether Joshua consistently pursued the toughest available challenges during his prime.
Joshua captured the IBF heavyweight title in 2016 by stopping Charles Martin before adding victories over the likes of Dillian Whyte, Wladimir Klitschko, Joseph Parker and Alexander Povetkin. However, several of those wins have come against opponents nearing the end of their careers. Klitschko was 41 years old and returning from a 17-month layoff, while Povetkin and Kubrat Pulev were both 39 when Joshua defeated them.
His rivalry with Tyson Fury never materialized while both held world titles, and a long-rumored showdown with Deontay Wilder also failed to come together during their championship reigns.
Joshua suffered the first defeat of his career when Andy Ruiz Jr. stopped him in June 2019 after replacing Jarrell Miller on short notice. Although Joshua reclaimed his titles six months later, subsequent losses to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and 2022 prevented him from re-establishing himself as the dominant heavyweight of his era.
Joshua’s recent run included wins over Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin, Francis Ngannou and Jake Paul before he was stopped by Daniel Dubois in September 2024.
Now 36 and preparing for another attempt to climb back into the fray, Joshua insists his motivation remains unchanged.
“I have so much improvement to do. This is my true identity as a fighter. And I have the passion for it. I have the love for it,” Joshua said.
Joshua faces Kristian Prenga on July 25 in Riyadh as he looks to move a step closer to another major heavyweight event. Long after those remaining fights are over, however, his own assessment of his career may be one of the most revealing comments he’s made.
