What Next for Joshua after Devastating Dubois Defeat?

Well, that wasn’t supposed to happen, was it?

When Anthony Joshua entered the Wembley ring last Saturday night after Daniel Dubois in a break from the boxing tradition of the challenger walking out before the champion, few could have predicted what was about to happen in front of over 90,000 people at the historic London venue.

Dominant Dubois

Joshua arrived at Wembley for his thirteenth World title fight seeking to become just the sixth man in history to become a three-time heavyweight champion but left with more questions and doubts surrounding his future in the sport, after a devastating loss to fellow Brit Dubois, who destroyed Joshua in dominant fashion.

Dubois went after Joshua right from the start of his first fight since being named permanent IBF champion in June. He floored AJ in the first round with a monstrous right hand to the chin of the former champion and from then on it was clear that a new star of the British heavyweight division was going to be born inside the Wembley ring.

Dubois continued to chase Joshua in the second-round swarming all over him and then in the third Joshua was put on the canvass on two occasions by his fired-up opponent. He survived a count from the ref and made it through the fourth round and then for a fleeting moment in the fifth round it looked Joshua may be able to find his footing in the fight with a couple of big shots that landed on Dubois. But that’s all it turned out to be as Dubois retreating after those shots from Joshua fired a devastating right to the onrushing Joshua’s chin. It spun the 2012 Olympic Gold medallist around, and down he went falling into the ropes. He tried desperately to regain his footing but that was it, the fight was over.

Wembley, the scene of Joshua’s greatest triumph when he defeated Wladimir Klitschko was now the scene of his most demoralising and devastating defeat.

What’s next for Joshua?

After the shock of Dubois’ dominance over Joshua, question marks have immediately begun over the two-time heavyweight champion’s future in the sport.

His revival mission after two successive defeats to Usyk had been going well with straightforward wins over the likes of Francis Ngannou, Robert Helenius and Otto Walin, but in Dubois he came up against a fighter seven years his junior who completely dominated him and grabbed his moment to shine on the world stage.

If Joshua is to continue boxing and he has said that carrying on is his plan in the aftermath of his defeat, then a rematch with Dubois looks the likeliest path to take. He has one fight left with Riyadh Season which could be a rematch with Dubois, but the IBF champion is not obligated to take a rematch fight with Joshua and could be looking towards the winner of the Oleksandr Usyk Tyson Fury fight in December.

There is also the possibility of a bout against Deontay Wilder or Dillian White as a bridge to get back to the top table once more, but Wilder’s last two fights have ended in defeats so whether the interest is there for that fight now remains to be seen. White is looking to get back to the top level himself after seeing his rematch fight with Joshua fall through last year and has expressed his desire to step into the ring against his old rival one more time.

What about Joshua vs Fury?

Had Joshua won against Dubois it would have put him in prime position to fight the winner of the Usyk-Fury rematch but after his defeat on Saturday the feeling now is that for the long-heralded fight with Fury to happen, Fury would probably have to lose the rematch to the Ukrainian in December.

If that were to happen a fight between Fury and Joshua might be able to take place, because for many, a Joshua-Fury fight is the biggest fight that can happen in the heavyweight division, in terms of the money and interest it could generate. It would certainly be the biggest fight to be staged in Britain if it took place on home soil for both fighters.

Time is ticking though if the two men want to finally meet in the ring and one thing is clear for Anthony Joshua after his domination by Dubois, his next decision on what comes next could be the most important of his career.

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✒️ Liam Lacey – Football and GAA Sports Expert

Liam Lacey is a sportswriter from County Laois in Ireland who specializes in delivering content on GAA, horse races, and football matters (though he does see himself as somewhat of a tennis aficionado also).

Liam has written about All Ireland Gaelic Football and Hurling Championships, Premier League, Champions League and international football, offering expert opinions and match previews and predictions. Occasionally, even getting some right!

Last Updated on 01/10/2024