Boxing: Joshua regrets loss to Dubois

Matchroom Boxing chief Eddie Hearn has acknowledged that Anthony Joshua is still processing his recent defeat to Daniel Dubois and is carefully weighing his options for a potential rematch. Joshua, a former two-time unified heavyweight champion, was stopped by Dubois in the fifth round of their bout at Wembley last month, a shocking outcome that has left him contemplating his next steps.

Dubois, who successfully defended his IBF heavyweight title, knocked Joshua down four times before finishing the fight just 59 seconds into the fifth round. Joshua, initially the favorite after a series of four consecutive wins following two losses to Oleksandr Usyk, had also previously defeated former UFC champion Francis Ngannou earlier this year, solidifying his position as a leading contender. However, the loss to Dubois has forced the 34-year-old to reconsider his future in boxing.

Hearn shared insights on Joshua’s current mindset during a DAZN interview, stating, “It’s still quite fresh, only three weeks ago. He’s devastated by the defeat.” He noted that Dubois is enjoying his success as the new champion and emphasized that Joshua is currently in a period where he needs to make a decision about his next move.

Discussions regarding a potential rematch are ongoing, and Hearn hinted that Joshua may favor facing Dubois again, despite the uncertainty surrounding it. “When you start thinking about it, there’s no bad decision,” Hearn said to Sky Sports. “He wants to win the world heavyweight title, and that might mean fighting Dubois again instead of facing Deontay Wilder or waiting for Tyson Fury. Ultimately, if it’s up to AJ, I think it will be hard to dissuade him from a rematch.”

Veteran heavyweight Derek Chisora also commented on Joshua’s situation, advising him to pursue the rematch immediately. “He should jump on the rematch straight away,” Chisora stated on ‘The Stomping Ground’. “What else is he going to do? Fight Deontay Wilder and then come back to Dubois? No, he should take the rematch now.”

While there isn’t a formal contractual rematch clause, reports suggest that Joshua has one more fight left under his Riyadh Season deal, and both Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, and Dubois are keen to facilitate the rematch.