Anthony Joshua is currently coming off the back of his heaviest knockout defeat in his career ever.
He was viciously knocked out cold recently by new IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois. Some would like to see Joshua retire with his faculties and money intact but it has been suggested he will look to still get the Tyson Fury fight at some point.
Simon Jordan of Talk Sport said of it and more:
“Moving on to the real heavyweight division, I was speaking with Frank Warren last week about Daniel Dubois and his upcoming fight. Let’s hear what Frank has to say about that. First of all, Daniel’s fight against AJ was his mandatory, so he’s entitled to a period of time off, which means he can fight in February, and he has until April or May to have another fight. After that, he’ll face the next mandatory challenger. It won’t be Anthony Joshua, though, as he’s out of the mandatory picture for now. So, where does that leave Joshua? Does it mean his only option is to bet everything on a fight with Fury?
Frank believes that if Fury beats Usyk, Joshua will step in to challenge him for a potential trilogy fight. But if Fury loses, Joshua could have another shot at the heavyweight title. It’s a big gamble for Joshua’s team, waiting for the outcome of Fury-Usyk, but from a business standpoint, a Fury-Joshua fight is the biggest draw in boxing right now. If Fury defeats Usyk, they might still not have a contractual obligation for a third fight, yet it would still make financial sense.
Joshua, though, might want to fight in between and avoid too much inactivity. There’s a concern that if he waits out for Fury, he’ll be too inactive to perform at his best. Frank says Joshua can’t afford another rebuilding process and should be aiming for bigger fights, such as against Daniel Dubois. However, Joshua’s team seems to be focusing on business rather than the immediate rematch with Dubois, potentially waiting for the outcome of Usyk-Fury.
As for Deontay Wilder, Frank suggests that a fight with him could be a legitimate opportunity for Joshua to avoid another lengthy rebuild. Wilder vs. Joshua would create massive interest, even if both fighters aren’t in their prime. From a business perspective, it’s a smart move, and Frank feels it’s a fight that could still sell.
Despite the challenges Joshua faces, Frank believes it will be difficult for him to win another world title due to the current heavyweight landscape, with younger fighters like Daniel Dubois stepping up. Frank adds that Dubois is becoming one of the top contenders, and his eventual world title victory will elevate him in the division.
There was also a rumor about a potential fight between Dubois and Caballero, which Frank debunks, stating Dubois’ team wants to fight Joseph Parker next, which is a more commercially viable option. Frank agrees that Parker is a tough fight but sees Dubois having the edge. However, Parker, who has rebuilt his career, shouldn’t be underestimated.”
Ultimately Joshua will do what he wants to and the decisions are down to him.
Fury is also in the fight of his life with the Usyk rematch next month December 21st in Saudi Arabia.
First thing is first.