Anthony Joshua sharpens his skills with chess as part of unusual fight preparation

Boxing star Anthony Joshua is not only focusing on his physical training but also strengthening his mental game. The British fighter recently shared a glimpse of his downtime on Instagram, posting a photo of himself with a chessboard.

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In the picture, Joshua is seen relaxing on a couch with a fully set chessboard in front of him. His impressive physique was also on display, as he was shirtless in the shot—something fans couldn’t help but notice.

The former heavyweight champion is currently enjoying the sunny weather in Riyadh, far from his homeland.

Joshua hasn’t stepped into the ring since September 2024, when he suffered a fifth-round defeat to Daniel Dubois. Originally, he was expected to face Tyson Fury this year, but the Gypsy King announced his retirement after his fight with Oleksandr Usyk.

According to promoter Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s next opponent could be the winner of this weekend’s fight between Dubois and Joseph Parker. Other potential matchups include Martin Bakole, the winner of the Zhilei Zhang vs. Agit Kabayel bout, or even Deontay Wilder.