Frank Warren has revealed what Anthony Joshua needs to do to secure a fight with Tyson Fury.
AJ suffered an embarrassing night at Wembley on Saturday when he was soundly beaten by Daniel Dubois and knocked out in five rounds in front of a record crowd.
3
3
This puts a halt to the momentum Joshua had built with four wins following two consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk.
And there is even talk of Joshua hanging up his gloves – although he insisted after the bout that he wants to carry on.
Joshua retiring would mean the biggest fight in British boxing history – against Fury – would never happen.
speaking out talkSPORT Regarding AJ’s future, Frank Warren, who promotes both Dubois and Fury, said: “Fighters are proud, proud men. It’s the toughest of all sports. It’s one on one.
“We all easily (tell fighters to retire) – and I’ve been guilty of that in the past. I said Dereck Chisora should retire and he won last time. He proved everyone wrong against Joe Joyce and I think that’s his decision.
“And I’ll tell you one thing about boxers. Boxers are the first to know when they should retire. But they’re the last to admit it.
“(It’s) up to the people around him to give him advice and he should take it. But whatever AJ does, his team will support him and that’s it.”
“In this sport if you’re not at the top of your game you should get out of it. There’s no doubt about it because it’s a hurtful business. But that’s a decision he has to make.”
Casino Specials – Best Casino Welcome Offers
3
Round by round: How Dubois demolished Joshua
ANTHONY JOSHUA bravely picked himself up off the floor against Daniel Dubois – until he couldn’t go on any more.
AJ was knocked down four times by Dubois in round five before a powerful counter right ended the show in dramatic fashion.
Here, SunSport’s Jack Figg gives you a round-by-round look at the Wembley battle.
round 1
Dubois moved quickly with the jab and had Joshua bouncing around, struggling to deal with the piston-like left.
A massive right hand from Dubois sent AJ staggering backwards with his hands still down from the opening bell.
Joshua paid the price for his mistake, as he came out with his hands down and got felled by an overhand right.
Round 2
Joshua – who only survived the knockout at the bell after falling to the ground – struggles to move forward as he is hit with blows to the face.
AJ is stumbling around the ring and his guard is dangerously low again and the pressure is mounting.
Joshua is trying to get back in the fight, but his jab looks very sluggish – it looks like he can’t recover from the knockdown.
Round 3
AJ comes out with more intent, but swings wildly with a right hand and only connects with thin air.
Dubois increased the pressure and backed Joshua into the corner and scored another knockdown.
The bell sounds but then Dubois lands the ball a time or two – once again AJ is saved by the clock as the writing looks to be on the wall.
Round 4
Accident happens again, Joshua falls to the ground once again – he loses his balance the moment he touches the canvas.
The referee gave AJ another chance and Dubois landed a soft blow – which gave the challenger some relief.
Dubois slowed down as round four ended, while Joshua showed great resilience to stay in the match.
Round 5
Joshua lands a powerful right hand and Dubois’ legs buckle – a surprise turnaround looks likely.
AJ presses Dubois to the ropes and attempts one of his signature uppercuts, but the counter right hand gets there first.
Joshua is caught straight on the chin, knocked down once again and this time out for good. Dubois scores a stunning KO win.
Joshua has a rematch clause which he can opt for for a second fight against Dubois.
Fury, meanwhile, will look to avenge his only professional defeat to Usyk when they meet again on December 21.
And Warren has confirmed that AJ must win if he wants to eventually face Fury.
Asked if the Fury vs Joshua fight is “over” after Saturday’s result, Warren said: “I don’t know.
“If he comes back and wins, who knows?”
Joshua’s professional record now features four defeats – the loss against Dubois includes one against Andy Ruiz and two against Usyk.
‘Are you not entertained? I’m a gladiator’ – What Dubois and Joshua said after brutal fight
Daniel Dubois has shattered Anthony Joshua’s dreams of becoming a three-time world heavyweight champion, writes Wally Downes Jr.
Joshua was stunned Four Dubois retained his IBF belt by scoring a stunning fifth-round knockout in front of a record 96,000 Wembley crowd and millions of TV viewers.
AJ, 34, never recovered after falling in the first round of last night’s Battle of Britain after a huge right hand from Dubois struck him on the chin.
Here is what he said after the fight:
Daniel DuBois
“Are you not entertained? I am a gladiator, a warrior who fights to the end. This is the biggest win of my career. I couldn’t let this opportunity go and now I want to go to the top level of this sport.
“I’ve been on a roller-coaster ride and it’s my time. I’m not stopping until I reach my full potential.”
Anthony Joshua
“No matter how angry I get, it is the way it is.
“I had a fast and quick opponent and I made a lot of mistakes. Credit goes to my opponent and his team.
“We rolled the dice and lost. You know I’m angry, but I’ll stay calm and respect my opponent.”
Frank Warren (DuBois’ promoter)
“It was a phenomenal fight, like Hagler vs. Hearns.
“It was a fantastic fight and everyone saw the performance of a champion tonight.
“Daniel has shown his courage, his skill.
“AJ caught him with a shot at the end and I was worried, but it was a great, amazing fight.”
Eddie Hearn (AJ’s promoter)
“AJ landed a big right hand in the first round and was fighting from the heart.
“He hurt Daniel at the end of the fourth and then again in the fifth but got greedy and went for the right hand and that was all he wrote.
“I’m sure Anthony will exercise the rematch clause.”
