Eddie Hearn revealed that Anthony Joshua has a rematch clause to power a second battle towards IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois after being knocked out within the fifth spherical by him on Saturday night time in London.
Hearn didn’t say whether or not Joshua (28-4, 23 KOs) will activate the rematch clause instantly or later. Joshua might want to think about this choice rigorously as a result of he didn’t look good tonight, getting knocked down repeatedly within the quick five-round battle.
Joshua’s Coach Wished Struggle Stopped
AJ’s coach, Ben Davison, jumped within the ring after he was being counted out in spherical 5. That transfer confirmed that Davison felt that Joshua had taken sufficient punishment from Dubois, and he didn’t need the battle to proceed.
The 27-year-old Dubois had youth on his aspect tonight, beating the residing daylights out of the 34-year-old Joshua, who was nothing just like the fighter he’d been throughout his prime.
Age appeared to have caught as much as Joshua tonight, with him wanting gradual and his punch resistance gone.
“Are you not entertained? I’m a gladiator, I’m a warrior to the bitter finish and I’m simply able to go. That is my time, that is my redemption story, and I’m not going to cease till I attain my full potential,” mentioned Daniel Dubous after the battle.
Joshua seemingly by no means recovered from a first-round knockdown he suffered tonight. Within the last seconds of the primary spherical, Dubois related with a brief proper hand that he wasn’t anticipating, and the punch regarded like it might have concussed the previous champ. After that spherical, Joshua was on skates in rounds two, three, 4, and 5.
“Eddie, I requested AJ in regards to the rebuild, and he appeared fairly assured that he could be again,” mentioned commentator Ade Oladipo at Matchroom Boxing, speaking to promoter Eddie Hearn about whether or not Anthony Joshua would come again. “You’ve all the time been part of that rebuild. You know the way tough it’s. We’re going to see AJ again within the ring, aren’t we?”
“Yeah, I’m positive he’ll train that rematch clause. I believe that’s a given, however he’ll want a relaxation,” mentioned Hearn about Joshua utilizing the rematch clause to battle Dubois once more. “It’s a harmful battle. This man is rising in confidence on a regular basis, however he’ll consider he can damage Dubois. He’ll consider he can beat him, however full credit score to Daniel Dubois. He deserves all of the credit score. It was an awesome efficiency from Daniel.”
Dubois put Joshua down with a blistering punch within the third spherical, and it’s unclear how AJ survived as a result of he was not in good condition after attending to his toes. Joshua knocked down within the fourth after which as soon as once more in spherical 5.
There was a short hope for Joshua within the fifth when he landed a scorching proper that shook Dubois to his boots, inflicting his legs to immediately flip to jelly. Dubois retreated to the ropes in what regarded like a land stand for him. Joshua charged ahead, throwing bombs.
Dubois threw a pleasant proper hand that missed, however it was thrown with plenty of energy. Joshua ought to have famous that Dubois was nonetheless alive and performed it protected, however he didn’t.
As a substitute, AJ threw a tough proper hand that Dubous countered with a brief punch that related like a ton of bricks on his chin, placing him down. The battle was then stopped at 0:59 of spherical 5.
I wouldn’t advocate Joshua ever face Dubois once more as a result of he’s not outfitted to beat this sort of fighter at his age. Possibly if Joshua had been nonetheless in his mid-20s, he’d have a shot at beating him so long as he didn’t get hit, however not the soon-to-be 35-year-old Joshua that we noticed tonight.
Joshua has misplaced an excessive amount of from his sport to have an opportunity of beating Dubois in a rematch. It could be higher for Joshua to take His Excellency Turki Alalshikh up on his provide to battle Tyson Fury in his subsequent battle. Turki mentioned that he didn’t care if each fighters had been overwhelmed. He nonetheless desires that battle subsequent.
