ANTHONY JOSHUA has been suspended from boxing for 28 days following his knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois.
The two-time world heavyweight champion, 34, was destroyed by his British rival in front of a record crowd at Wembley last weekend.
AJ was dropped three times before the decisive punch in the fifth round saw him hit the canvas for the final time.
Now he has been handed a standard 28-day suspension by the British Boxing Board of Control.
This is always dished out to British fighters when they suffer a stoppage loss.
But the suspension will not impact Joshua as he has no plans to fight before the suspension expires on October 19.
He is expected to return in 2025 after the fourth professional defeat of his career.
And Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh has revealed he plans to make the rematch between Joshua and Dubois.
The Olympic gold medallist’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, confirmed earlier this week the three opponents Joshua could face next.
It comes after AJ insisted on social media that he will not retire.
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His options will largely depend on the outcome of Oleksandr Usyk’s rematch against Tyson Fury on December 21.
Speaking to iFL TV, Hearn said: “If Fury was to lose maybe they [AJ and Fury] both say ‘Right, let’s give the public one last hurrah, two big fights, done’.
“Or, if Fury wins, he could defend against AJ for the unified world heavyweight title and AJ could beat him and become a three-time heavyweight champion. Anything’s possible.
“Or we could rematch Daniel Dubois.
“Or [he] could fight someone else. Deontay Wilder. I dunno, it’s not something that’s been discussed yet but two guys coming off defeats, big punchers, someone’s got to go from the sport.
“But for me the options are rematch Daniel Dubois or wait and see what happens in Fury against Usyk.”
‘Are you not entertained? I’m a gladiator’ – What Dubois and Joshua said after brutal fight
DANIEL DUBOIS annihilated Anthony Joshua’s dream of becoming a three-time world heavyweight champion, writes Wally Downes Jr.
Joshua was floored FOUR times as Dubois landed an astonishing fifth-round knockout in front of a record 96,000 Wembley crowd and millions of TV viewers to retain his IBF belt.
AJ, 34, never recovered after being downed in the first round of last night’s Battle of Britain showdown as a huge Dubois right-hand haymaker caught him flush on the chin.
Here’s what they said after the fight:
DANIEL DUBOIS
“Are you not entertained? I’m a gladiator, a warrior to the bitter end. This is the biggest win of my career. I couldn’t let this opportunity go and now I want to go to the top level of this game.
“I’ve been on a roller-coaster ride and this is my time. I’m not gonna stop until I reach my full potential.”
ANTHONY JOSHUA
“As p***ed off as I am, it is what it is.
“I had a sharp, fast opponent and there were a lot of mistakes from me. Credit to my opponent and his team.
“We rolled the dice and came up short. You know I’m p***ed but I’m going to keep cool and give respect to my opponent.”
FRANK WARREN (DUBOIS’ PROMOTER)
“It was a phenomenal fight, like Hagler v Hearns.
“A brilliant fight and everybody has seen a champion’s performance tonight.
“Daniel has shown his courage, his skills.
“AJ caught him with a shot towards the end and I was worried, but what a fabulous, fantastic fight.”
EDDIE HEARN (AJ’S PROMOTER)
“AJ shipped a huge right hand in the first round and was fighting on heart.
“He hurt Daniel at the end of the fourth and then again in the fifth, but got greedy and walked on to a right hand and that’s all she wrote.
“I’m sure Anthony will exercise the rematch clause.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
