Anthony Joshua suffered a crushing and one-sided defeat at the moment by the hands of Daniel Dubois, dropped 4 occasions and stopped within the fifth spherical of their IBF title battle at Wembley Stadium, however promoter Eddie Hearn doesn’t see any motive that the battle could be the final of Joshua’s profession.
Hearn does acknowledge that the 34-year-old Joshua (28-4, 25 KO) is within the house stretch of his profession, however thinks there might be huge fights on the market — and that the all-British showdown between AJ and Tyson Fury shouldn’t be a lifeless problem.
Fury, after all, will rematch Oleksandr Usyk for the WBC, WBA, and WBO titles on Dec. 21 in Saudi Arabia.
“I don’t see (at the moment) being a battle that ends (Joshua’s) profession, however as I’ve mentioned he’s within the ultimate chapter or chapters of his profession, and that’s an enormous blow, as a result of we fancied profitable tonight and preventing the winner of Fury in opposition to Usyk, and we could find yourself preventing the loser of that battle possibly, if it’s Tyson Fury,” Hearn mentioned.
“You’ve acquired the Dubois rematch, you’ve acquired different fights on the market. However I feel it’s actually about returning to the health club and having time without work and seeing the way you come again with Ben (Davison). Lots is dependent upon the way you’re performing within the health club.”
Hearn mentioned within the ring post-fight that he expects Joshua to train his rematch clause with Dubois (22-2, 21 KO), however the Fury choice might be greater cash subsequent 12 months, even when Fury suffers a second straight loss to Usyk.
Although followers are fast to imagine fights are lifeless on account of losses, it actually comes down as to whether or not the battle might be bought, and even in diminished states, Fury vs Joshua might be bought in 2025. It wouldn’t imply what it might have three years and even one 12 months in the past, however it might nonetheless be an enormous cash battle, and cash is what retains this sport shifting and what will get fights carried out.
The rematch with Dubois is, as Hearn mentioned, nonetheless a viable choice, too. The battle didn’t lack for motion or leisure worth, and Joshua has tried to avenge defeats in opposition to different fighters up to now. He succeeded in his rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr in 2019, however misplaced two straight to Usyk in 2021-22.
