Former heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko says he'll decide whether to have a rematch with Anthony Joshua "within the next two weeks."
Klitschko, who lost by an 11th round TKO in a pulsating bout with the Briton on April 29, says in comments reported by news agency dpa, "My life isn't only sport and boxing," and that he's planning "the career after the career."
Klitschko, who reigned over the heavyweight division for a decade, is also fighting Father Time at the age of 41.
His fight in London's Wembley Stadium against 2012 Olympic champion Joshua, 14 years his junior, was one of the best heavyweight bouts in recent times. A record crowd of 90,000 fans packed the venue to watch Joshua get off the floor in the sixth round to rally and stop Klitschko in round elevel.
Klitschko fell to 64-5 in a career that began in 1996 after he won the Olympic gold in Atlanta.
Joshua (19-0, 19 KOs) received an exception from the IBF to fight Klitschko in a rematch, but he must do so by December 2. The IBF's mandatory challenger is Kubrat Pulev of Bulgaria.
Joshua' promoter, Eddie Hearn, believes Klitschko will be a lot more confident in the rematch.
"It will be fascinating because Anthony Joshua will go into the fight knowing that he got hurt in the fight, knowing that he made mistakes but also knowing that he can hurt Wladimir Klitschko," Hearn told Sky Sports News HQ.
"But Wladimir will know that as well and Wladimir's confidence will be high going into the fight. He will probably feel like he had a chance in those fifth or sixth rounds to maybe try and win the fight and I think he will kick himself for that and next time he will try and put his foot on the gas a little more."
"We are in a position with Anthony that providing Wladimir Klitschko doesn't decide to retire, which everything we are being told is 'go ahead and plan this fight', the future for Anthony Joshua is mapped out in terms of his next two fights. That's important for him to have that plan and that stability as well because it is a sport that you can get messed around in and I have always said we will not allow that to happen to Anthony Joshua. The future for now - particularly the short term future is secure. Looks like Wladimir Klitschko next and then Pulev in the Spring of next year."