ANTHONY JOSHUA’S future has already been decided, Eddie Hearn has revealed.
AJ was knocked out by Daniel Dubois in the fifth round in front of a record-breaking crowd of at least 96,000 at Wembley on Saturday night.
Joshua had been downed by his British rival three times in the four rounds prior, and later praised his “sharp opponent” and lamented his own “mistakes” during the bout.
The 34-year-old also confirmed he had no plans to retire despite some suggestions he could hang up his gloves, and he could yet make a U-turn on that snap decision.
But Matchroom promoter Hearn has now revealed what is most-likely next for Joshua.
He said there was a rematch clause in his contract to fight 27-year-old Dubios that was likely to be activated, lining up a potential second run at the IBF heavyweight title in the future.
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Speaking to Dazn, he said: “I’m sure he’ll exercise that rematch clause, I think that’s a given.
“He’ll need a rest and it’s a dangerous fight. This guy’s growing in confidence all the time.
“He’ll believe he can hurt Dubois. He’ll believe he can beat him, but full credit to Daniel Dubois, he deserves all the credit tonight.
“It was a great performance from Daniel.”
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His KO defeat also dampened the chance of a £500million mega-fight deal with Tyson Fury next Spring, as SunSport exclusively revealed.
A fight between Joshua and Fury – who was in the crowd for the fight – could still be on the cards, even though it will be long past when most would have loved to see them at their peaks.
Great fighters from previous eras – that AJ studies and admires – did all face their finest rivals, some – like George Foreman and Larry Holmes – even across generations.
When asked what had gone wrong during the fight, Joshua said: “The opponent.”
He added: “Credit to him and his team, we rolled the dice at success and we came up short. You know I’m p****d, you know I’m ready to kick off in the ring.
“But I’m going to keep my cool and keep very professional and give the respect to my opponent.”
Joshua also did a short press conference with reporters against the advice of Hearn.
In it he said: “Firstly, always walk with your head high. We took a shot at success and we came up short unfortunately. We rolled the dice man, for the third time.
“That’s 13 world title fights, not every one has been successful, but every one has been fun and entertaining.
“We’re trying to create history for British boxing and I think we’re doing that and also I appreciate all the press and media – the fans aren’t here but I thank them through you.”
‘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.”
He added: “Do I want to continue? Of course I want to continue fighting.
“That’s why I said we took a shot at success and we came up short, and what does that mean now? We’re going to run away and live to fight another day, I’m a warrior.
“And also before I finish credit to our opponent as well, Daniel.
“Even though when I sign up to fight an opponent I don’t really like them anymore, but now it’s done, I take my hat off to him and say well done to him and his team.
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“And also thank you to my team as well for the way they prepared me.
“There were a few mistakes in there but that’s the name of the game, fine margins can cost you at the top level, so thank you.”
Round by round: How Dubois demolished Joshua
ANTHONY JOSHUA bravely picked himself up from the floor against Daniel Dubois – until he could no more.
AJ was floored four times in five rounds by Dubois before a thudding counter right closed the show in dramatic fashion.
Here, SunSport’s Jack Figg takes you round-by-round from the Wembley war.
ROUND 1
Dubois comes out sharp with the jab as Joshua bounces around struggling to deal with the piston-like left.
Huge right hand from Dubois has AJ staggering backwards with his hands far too low from the opening bell.
Joshua made to pay for the mistake as he circles out with his hands down and gets dropped by an overhand right.
ROUND 2
Joshua – saved only by the bell after being floored – struggles to get going as he takes shots to the face.
AJ is tottering and teetering around the ring with his guard again dangerously low and inviting pressure on.
Joshua is attempting to get back into the bout but his jab looks far too lazy – he doesn’t look to have recovered from the knockdown.
ROUND 3
AJ comes out with more intent but swings wildly with a right and connects with only thin air.
Dubois pours on the pressure and hammers Joshua into the corner scoring another knockdown.
The bell sounds but Dubois lands one or two afterwards – again AJ is saved by the clock as the writing looks on the wall.
ROUND 4
Disaster strikes again with Joshua floored once more – losing his balance as he touches the canvas.
The referee gives AJ another fighting chance and Dubois lands a low blow – giving the challenger some valuable respite.
Dubois slows down as four rounds come to a close with Joshua showing sensational resilience to hang in there.
ROUND 5
Joshua lands a huge right hand and Dubois legs buckle – an astonishing turnaround looks to be on the cards.
AJ pins Dubois onto the ropes and attempts one of his signature uppercuts but the countering right hand gets there first.
Joshua is caught flush on the chin, dropped once more and this time out for good. Dubois scores a stunning KO win.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
