Anthony Joshua has vowed to continue his boxing career following a devastating knockout loss to IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois. From the start of the match, Joshua struggled to find his footing and ultimately succumbed in the fifth round.
Despite this setback, which ended his four-fight win streak, Joshua dismissed any thoughts of retirement. “Of course I still want to continue fighting,” he asserted at the post-fight news conference. “We took a shot at success and came up short. Are we going to run away now or live to fight another day? I’m a warrior.”
The loss was significant for Joshua, who was aiming to join the ranks of boxing legends like Muhammad Ali, Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield, and Vitali Klitschko by becoming a three-time world heavyweight champion. His ambitions faced a stark reality with this defeat.
Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, advised him against attending the press conference, but Joshua insisted on addressing the media to make a statement. With visible bruises under both eyes and on his neck, he chose to forgo taking questions and instead delivered a resolute message.
“Always walk with your head up high,” Joshua stated. He reflected on his journey, saying, “We rolled the dice. That’s 13 world title fights; not all of them have been successful, but they’ve all been fun and entertaining. We want to create history for British boxing, and I think we are doing that.”
Joshua’s impact on the sport is undeniable, with nearly 500,000 fans having watched him headline six major fights in British stadiums. This bout marked Joshua’s first world title fight since his rematch loss to Oleksandr Usyk for the WBA (Super), IBF, and WBO belts in August 2022.
WBA, WBC, and WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk was present at Wembley, taking a brief break from his training camp as he prepares for a rematch with Tyson Fury on December 21. The Ukrainian boxer, who scored back-to-back victories over Anthony Joshua in 2021 and 2022, has emerged as the face of the heavyweight division during a time when Joshua’s dominance has waned.
“I was surprised,” Usyk told Sky Sports about Joshua’s recent loss. “I expected Anthony to win the fight.”
Usyk remains undefeated in 22 professional bouts and was an undisputed champion at cruiserweight before moving up to heavyweight, where he has also achieved that title. His success has solidified his position as a leading figure in boxing’s heavyweight landscape.
Who could Joshua fight next?
It’s a challenging question to address right after a significant defeat, but Joshua is resolute about continuing his boxing career and will have plenty of options.
Promoter Eddie Hearn mentioned the possibility of triggering a rematch with Daniel Dubois, making him the current frontrunner for Joshua’s next fight.
Additionally, matchups with Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury are on the table. Wilder’s trainer, Malik Scott, recently stated that Wilder intends to keep fighting despite suffering back-to-back losses. A potential comeback against Wilder could be an appealing option for Joshua, as both fighters seek a major victory.
Organizers noted that a fight with Fury would still be available to Joshua, even in the event of a loss to Dubois. Hearn suggested that 2025 might be the last opportunity for a Fury-Joshua matchup, but it remains uncertain if either fighter has the desire to make it happen.
