Dubois Defeats Joshua

Two-time world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua finds himself at a crossroads following his devastating defeat to fellow Briton Daniel Dubois at Wembley on Saturday. The 34-year-old was overpowered by Dubois, seven years his junior, in what marked Joshua's fourth career loss, adding to defeats against Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and 2022, and underdog Andy Ruiz Jr in 2019.

With a long-anticipated showdown against Tyson Fury looking more distant than ever, Joshua faces uncertainty about his next steps in the sport that once made him one of Britain’s greatest heavyweight fighters.

Joshua entered Wembley on the back of four consecutive victories, including a knockout win over Francis Ngannou in March. However, IBF heavyweight champion Dubois, who had only lost twice in 24 fights, dominated the bout. Joshua was knocked down in the first round and went to the canvas multiple times, including twice in the third round, before the fight ended in the fifth.

Former world champion Barry Jones, speaking on the 5 Live Boxing podcast, said, "He wasn't just knocked out – he was outboxed, outthought, and bullied by the stronger, younger, fitter guy." Jones noted that Joshua never recovered from the first knockdown and looked tentative throughout, making "novice mistakes."

Joshua described the loss as a "bad night at the office," admitting he wasn’t setting up his shots properly. "In a shootout like that, you have to be sniper-esque. But once you've been hit a few times, you're in survival mode," he explained.

Former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis was blunt, stating, "One guy showed up, one guy didn’t. Disappointed."

Despite the defeat, Joshua expressed his desire to continue fighting, calling himself a "warrior" and saying, "If people want to see me fight, I will fight." Having won Olympic gold in 2012 and his first world title eight years ago, Joshua hinted at the possibility of a rematch clause after his 32nd professional fight.

Meanwhile, Tyson Fury, who was ringside, joked that Joshua's defeat had cost him £150 million, a reference to the potential earnings from a long-speculated fight between the two. Fury now turns his attention to a rematch with Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia this December.

Joshua has also been linked to a fight against former world champion Deontay Wilder, though Wilder, now 38, has lost his past two fights to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang. Wilder's trainer, Malik Scott, was present at Wembley on Saturday night.

As Joshua contemplates his future, Barry Jones believes it may be time for him to walk away from the sport. "He's a credit to the sport and has reinvented British boxing in many ways. He's got the money, his health, and he’ll be a celebrity for life if that’s what he wants," said Jones.

Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, acknowledged the challenges ahead but noted that the defeat wasn’t as brutal as his loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. "He's gutted, but he's OK. A lot of people around him are saying: 'It couldn't have gone any worse, and he still could have won.'"

While Joshua’s career has seen dazzling highs, including his legendary knockout of Wladimir Klitschko in 2017 before 90,000 fans at Wembley, recent losses have tarnished his once-glittering reputation.



Reflecting on Joshua’s legacy, Jones added, "He may not be the greatest heavyweight of all time, but he's been a good one. His legacy in the UK is phenomenal. For a while, he was the standout heavyweight, but not for a long while. Boxers struggle with the question: what do you do if you’re not a boxer anymore?"