Anthony Joshua has now been knocked out twice in his career, both in title fights as a sizeable favorite. In the high-profile IBF championship bout with Daniel Dubois on Sept. 21, Joshua was knocked out loss in the fifth round after three previous knockdowns.
Despite the brutal nature of the loss, Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn believes that the 34-year-old former champion will pursue a rematch with Dubois. After the fight, Hearn went into the ring to give his thoughts on his fighter's loss, and spoke about a rematch clause in Joshua's contract:
"I'm sure [Joshua will] exercise that rematch clause. I think that's a given. But he'll need to rest and it's a dangerous fight, [Dubois is] gaining confidence every time. But he'll believe he can hurt Dubois. Full credit to Daniel Dubois, he deserves all the credit tonight."
Check out Eddie Hearn's comments below:
The fight was widely seen as the matchup to allow Joshua to regain championship status two years after losing his belts to Oleksandr Usyk. However, the exact opposite happened, as Dubois established his power early with a first-round knockdown and would put 'AJ' down three more times en route to the knockout.
Joshua did find success in the fight and wobbled Dubois early in the fifth round but in pursuit of the finish walked directly into a counter right hand from 'Dynamite'.
Anthony Joshua's championship history
Although he failed to become a three-time IBF champion, Anthony Joshua is still one of the best heavyweights of the modern era. Joshua twice enjoyed lengthy reigns atop the division, both times holding the WBA, WBO, IBF, and IBO belts.
Joshua's initial title reign ended when he was shockingly knocked out by Andy Ruiz Jr. in 2019. He would win the belts back in a rematch later the same year but lost them two years later to Oleksandr Usyk.
Still just 34, Joshua is not completely out of the title picture with his loss to Dubois, particularly with his revealed rematch clause. However, how the fight played out and the rematch between Usyk and Tyson Fury in December, a second fight between Joshua and Dubois would likely not be until later in 2025.