British boxing superstar Anthony Joshua has suffered defeats before. He was shocked and stopped by Andy Ruiz in New York. He was outmanoeuvred and outboxed by Oleksandr Usyk in London and Riyadh. However, against Daniel Dubois on Saturday, he was bullied and battered before 98,000 fans at Wembley Stadium.
In the wake of AJ’s fifth-round capitulation at the hands of his countryman, there have been calls for the ex-champion to retire. For the second time in his career, Joshua was bidding to become a three-time heavyweight titleholder, but he fell way short against the explosive Londoner who unleashed hell.
Hardened ringsiders sat with their mouths agape as Dubois punched the British boxing hero from pillar to post and took away the time and distance he so desperately craved. Joshua was down in the first, third and fourth rounds, then, just after he’d hurt Dubois with a monster shot to the chin, walked on to a right-hand bomb that knocked him out cold in the fifth.
MORE: What AJ should do next after Dubois demolition job
But despite this ignominious defeat, Joshua will not give up. In fairness to him, AJ avenged his first setback to Ruiz by outboxing the rotund Mexican American to a near-shutout decision and he gave a much better account of himself in the points loss to Usyk in that rematch. It’s characteristic of Joshua to get back on the horse and that’s the plan this time.
🫡 pic.twitter.com/RtdLgCIu8p
— Anthony Joshua (@anthonyjoshua) September 23, 2024
“We came up short, but look, we’ve got to look at all the positives. That’s the mindset we have to have, a positive one, always,” said an upbeat AJ via his official Twitter account. “Look at what we’ve achieved in the space of 11 years – it’s phenomenal. And I want to thank every single one of you that’s been riding with me. What a rollercoaster journey.
“But do you know what the problem is? It’s far from over yet. We done it once, we done it twice… doing it a third time hasn’t been easy, but I believe it’s something I can achieve. It’s about making the right steps forward, working hard, improving, and it’s gotta come from [the heart]. It can’t come from any external voices or influences. It’s gotta come [from the heart].
“It’s only been a day [since the loss], but when I sit back and I’m thinking, I know I’ve got a lot [of heart]. So, yeah, just a video to thank you for your support. Thanks for being on this rollercoaster journey with me. Keep your seatbelts tight because deep, deep, deep, deep down in [my heart], I know I’ve got a lot more to bring to the game, and long may it continue. British boxing, I appreciate you, we rise up together. Let’s go!
MORE: The top 7 best knockout punchers in heavyweight boxing ranked
It’s unclear if Joshua will exercise a rematch clause that Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn referenced post-fight. However, we can expect to see him back in the ring in 2025. This news will probably elicit mixed opinions from boxing experts and fans, some of whom have called for the ex-champ to bring down the curtain on a glorious 11-year professional career.
It should be noted that other champions have come back from crushing setbacks. In November 1995, Evander Holyfield was knocked out by Riddick Bowe in their third fight and completely written off by fans and experts. One year later, “The Real Deal” hammered Mike Tyson to defeat to become a three-time heavyweight champion at the age of 34.
It’s a long road back, but AJ is willing to walk it.
