It was a devastating night for Anthony Joshua, but he was still determined to make his own decisions after that shocking defeat by Daniel Dubois.
AJ was on the floor in four of the five rounds as he was sent crashing to a shocking fifth-round knockout loss to the IBF heavyweight champion in front of 96,000 stunned fans at Wembley Stadium.
The problems started right from the get-go as Dubois dominated proceedings, setting up big right-hand bombs with a ramrod left jab. It was terrific stuff from the young Londoner, and Joshua just could not get started.
A heavy knockdown at the end of the first round was the pivotal moment of an incredible fight, and in truth while AJ beat the count, he never truly recovered.
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After that was more of the same – ironically bar a few moments early in Round 5 when Joshua landed a big right of his hand and stiffened the legs of Dubois momentarily. But then, as AJ moved in for the kill he was knocked out by a brutal short right counter to the point of his chin.
Hearn’s advice to Joshua
Afterwards promoter Eddie Hearn opened the post-fight press conference by saying he’d advised Joshua – who remember had been knocked down four times during the defeat – not to face the world’s media. But that advice went unheeded, the 34-year-old Watford man has never been one to shirk any challenge.
He said: “My advice to AJ is not to do a press conference. He wants to do a press conference so he’s gonna come in, he’s gonna talk. I’m not gonna let him sit here for ages and take questions.”
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Joshua (28-4) has been here before of course after previous losses to Andy Ruiz Jr and Oleksandr Usyk. Saturday night had been expected to confirm his third reign as a world-heavyweight champion – but the script was mercilessly torn up by the brilliant Dubois. Hearn was left trying to take any positive he could from the wreckage.
“It’s a difficult defeat but at this point you have to try and take any positives you can. And it’s difficult because the start was disastrous and the only positive I can take is the unbelievable heart and guts and nuts he showed to never give up.”
What next for Anthony Joshua?
Now of course all talk will be about what Joshua does next. Hearn believes his man WILL want a rematch against Dubois. But he also says what happens in that Usyk vs Tyson Fury 2 rematch on December 21 could be a factor.
“We have a contracted fight with Riyadh Season that could include the Daniel Dubois rematch. I think we need time. I don’t think he could have boxed much worse tonight but you have to give Dubois plenty of credit – he was brilliant tonight. He put the pressure on, we knew he’d be dangerous in the early part of the fight and the start couldn’t have been worse really.
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“AJ will believe he can box much better and beat him. But Dubois is gonna be full of confidence. And we have to look at what happens on December 21st – if Tyson Fury wins, or if Tyson Fury loses. But no immediate rush, but I know what AJ is like and I know he’d like to have another crack at him.”
