Anthony Joshua has hinted at a future career in football agency, teasing a joint venture with his boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, whose family he credits with ‘conquering’ a range of sports.
The former two-time heavyweight champion has not been in the boxing ring since he was knocked out by Daniel Dubois, back in September. The 35-year-old had elbow surgery in May and is looking to make a return to the ring at some stage later this year.
Even if a blockbuster bout materalises this term or at the start of the next, Joshua is in the twilight of a glittering career and he is already looking ahead to what comes next.
On Thursday, he took to social media to tease a future in the football agency industry alongside his long-time promoter Hearn.
‘[Eddie Hearn] the family has conquered darts, snooker, pool, boxing, fishing, golf, owning a football club & you’ve had a presence in basketball, netball & gymnastics,’ he wrote on Instagram.
‘I believe “we” could look at the football agency industry and have a strong presence. Imagine we help manage the player who helped England win the World Cup.
Anthony Joshua has hinted at a future career in football agency, teasing a joint venture with his boxing promoter Eddie Hearn
Hearn has some experience in the sport, having worked with his father Barry, who was the chairman of Leyton Orient for 19 years between 1995 and 2014
‘Call me tomorrow mate.’
Joshua’s call to action comes five years after Hearn first floated the idea of him and British boxer teaming up to make a splash in the football agent business.
When asked if he’d ever consider getting into the business, Hearn told British GQ in 2020: ‘That’s a remarkable question because I was having a conversation about that four hours ago.
‘Do you know what? I’ll just say it. Me and AJ are talking about doing it.
‘We’ve looked at it for a while and he mentioned it to me the other day and he said: “You know how to represent athletes, you can use my brand and my name, I know a lot of the players, we go out.
‘”You know how to build a career on the pitch and off the pitch commercially, so what do you think?”
‘It may not happen, but we’re looking at it. Could be fun.’
Hearn has some experience in the sport, having worked with his father Barry, who was the chairman of Leyton Orient for 19 years between 1995 and 2014.
Joshua teased his future venture in a social media post on Thursday night, tagging Hearn in his message
Hearn has been the long-time promoter of the former two-time world heavyweight champion
The former two-time heavyweight champion has not been in the boxing ring since he was knocked out by Daniel Dubois , back in September
Last month, former unified heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis questioned whether Joshua still wants to continue fighting following his absence from the build up to Oleksandr Usyk’s knockout win over Daniel Dubois.
‘I think it’s a missed opportunity, Joshua not being at ringside,’ Lewis told Mail Sport. He should show up if he wants to fight and he feels he’s still got it.’