September 22nd 2024.
The recent defeat of Anthony Joshua at the hands of Daniel Dubois has shaken the world of boxing. Fans and experts alike are now curious about what the future holds for the two-time heavyweight champion. In front of a record-breaking crowd of 96,000 at Wembley Stadium, Joshua suffered a crushing defeat as Dubois sent him to the ground four times before ultimately knocking him out in the fifth round. This was the fourth loss of Joshua's career and likely the most devastating one.
As expected, the conversation after the fight turned to the possibility of Joshua's retirement. However, the determined fighter made it clear that he still has the desire to continue his career. Despite the crushing defeat, Joshua remains a highly sought-after boxer with big offers coming his way. While other fighters may consider such a defeat as career-ending, Joshua has proven in the past that he has the resilience to bounce back.
Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed that there is a rematch clause in the contract, one that he expects Joshua to activate. Given the severity of his defeat, this may be Joshua's best option moving forward. Hearn also acknowledged that Joshua will need some time to rest and recover after such a tough fight, but ultimately believes that he will exercise the rematch clause and come back stronger.
Some may feel that this loss has dampened the possibility of a highly-anticipated showdown between Joshua and Tyson Fury. However, Matchroom CEO Frank Smith has revealed that the fight is still on the cards and could potentially happen in 2025. Even if Fury loses his upcoming fight against Oleksandr Usyk in December, the two British boxers are still on a collision course. This fight, even without any world titles at stake, remains the biggest in the division and a dream match for Saudi Arabia and Turki Alalshikh.
But as history has shown with past fights like Mayweather vs Pacquaio and Khan vs Brook, waiting too long for a matchup can result in both fighters being past their prime. Hearn and Smith have stressed that the fight between Joshua and Fury must happen in 2025 or it may never happen at all. However, for now, the focus remains on Joshua's potential rematch with Dubois, which could also be a highly entertaining fight for fans.
Joshua's defeat against Dubois was a tactical disaster, but he has previously shown that he can learn from his mistakes and come back stronger. His partnership with trainer Ben Davison has been successful in the past, as seen in his redemption fight against Andy Ruiz Jr. Despite being outclassed by Usyk in both fights, Joshua was able to regain his confidence with a string of victories against tough opponents. If the rematch with Dubois takes place, he and Davison will surely analyze their mistakes and make the necessary adjustments.
Meanwhile, Fury was watching ringside as the drama unfolded. As for Joshua, the bigger question now is whether he will be the same fighter moving forward. It is common for a fighter's punch resistance to decrease as their career progresses, and Joshua was an easy target for Dubois. His defeat was a clear indication that his best days may be behind him. On the other hand, Dubois' victory has solidified his legitimacy as a world title contender and he is now in a prime position to fight the winner of Usyk vs Fury II in December. Indeed, the future of the heavyweight division is filled with exciting possibilities.
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