Anthony Joshua has admitted he may have to vacate one of his world heavyweight titles in 2020.
The 30-year-old Brit only regained his belts at the beginning of December after overcoming Andy Ruiz Jr in their rematch.
But despite Joshua holding grand plans of unifying the division next year, he has accepted it will be tough to cover all bases.
“I would hate [to vacate a belt] because it’s so hard to go round and collect all these belts, it’s really difficult and I’ve kept hold of them for so many years,” Joshua told Sky Sports.
“So to have to vacate because of the boxing politics would be annoying, but there’s things that are out of my control. If I do lose one, I know I’ll be able to get it back.”
Joshua currently holds the WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO world heavyweight titles.
Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev is the mandatory challenger to Joshua’s IBF belt, with potential for a bout to take place in April.
However that would likely mean Joshua would have to relinquish his WBO belt, as he must face Oleksandr Usyk before June.
That would allow him insufficient time to prepare for both Pulev and Usyk in the first half of the year.
And given that he tends to fight just twice a year, those obligations could take up the whole of 2020.
In addition Joshua will have one eye on proceedings between current WBC champion Deontay Wilder, and Gypsy King Tyson Fury when they face off in February.
A clash with the winner of that contest would be the blockbuster fight of the year, while an all-British showdown with old foe Dillian Whyte would also put plenty of bums on seats.
Joshua added: “Time moves so fast, it’s easy to forget things. So we just look forward into the new year and more challenges, more competition and hopefully more memorable years to come.
“It’s 2020 vision. Whoever’s on the cards will get taken down. I just keep myself focused and whoever wants it can get it.”
The 30-year-old Brit only regained his belts at the beginning of December after overcoming Andy Ruiz Jr in their rematch.
But despite Joshua holding grand plans of unifying the division next year, he has accepted it will be tough to cover all bases.
“I would hate [to vacate a belt] because it’s so hard to go round and collect all these belts, it’s really difficult and I’ve kept hold of them for so many years,” Joshua told Sky Sports.
“So to have to vacate because of the boxing politics would be annoying, but there’s things that are out of my control. If I do lose one, I know I’ll be able to get it back.”
Joshua currently holds the WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO world heavyweight titles.
Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev is the mandatory challenger to Joshua’s IBF belt, with potential for a bout to take place in April.
However that would likely mean Joshua would have to relinquish his WBO belt, as he must face Oleksandr Usyk before June.
That would allow him insufficient time to prepare for both Pulev and Usyk in the first half of the year.
And given that he tends to fight just twice a year, those obligations could take up the whole of 2020.
In addition Joshua will have one eye on proceedings between current WBC champion Deontay Wilder, and Gypsy King Tyson Fury when they face off in February.
A clash with the winner of that contest would be the blockbuster fight of the year, while an all-British showdown with old foe Dillian Whyte would also put plenty of bums on seats.
Joshua added: “Time moves so fast, it’s easy to forget things. So we just look forward into the new year and more challenges, more competition and hopefully more memorable years to come.
“It’s 2020 vision. Whoever’s on the cards will get taken down. I just keep myself focused and whoever wants it can get it.”
