ONE of Britain’s most beloved boxers pleaded with heavyweight hero Anthony Joshua to RETIRE.
Joshua was brutally knocked out by Daniel Dubois in front of a record 98,000 fans at London’s Wembley Stadium.
Among the historic number in attendance was boxing icon Naseem Hamed.
And Prince Naz – who retired aged just 28 – advised AJ to walk away when probed on Joshua’s chances of coming back.
He told iFL TV: “Whether he can or he can’t, I’d prefer him not to.
“He’s had his day in the sun like we all have. He’s done great, he won amazing world titles, he’s defended them, he’s earned his dough.
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“Listen, he should bow out gracefully and that’s it, done. Because when he gets hit on the chin – we don’t want to talk about that right now.”
Maverick Hamed went 35 fights unbeaten during his iconic prime before losing in 2001 to the great Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera.
He returned with just one more victory before hanging up his gloves at 36–1 while not even 30.
Joshua, 34, meanwhile was floored FOUR times but picked himself up from the canvas until he simply could no more.
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‘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.”
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A devastating right hand in round five from Dubois, 27, closed the show in emphatic style.
Joshua does have a rematch clause and talked down retirement.
He said: “Of course I want to continue fighting. We took a shot and we came up short.
“What are we going to do, walk away? We’re going to live another day.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
