Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois: What went improper for AJ, what will likely be subsequent and may the Tyson Fury struggle nonetheless occur?

Anthony Joshua endured probably the most emphatic defeat of his profession in opposition to Daniel Dubois on Saturday night time.

Joshua had banished the recollections of his consecutive reverses in opposition to Oleksandr Usyk. The good machine that’s an AJ heavyweight marketing campaign was motoring. He appeared good over the course of a run of 4 high-profile wins.

In his bout with Daniel Dubois, he was gunning to change into a three-time heavyweight champion, all in entrance of a raucous Wembley Stadium.

Then all of it went improper.

Dubois barrelled into him from the opening bell. Joshua labored on the backfoot however could not maintain Dubois off.

An enormous proper to the chin disconnected him on the finish of the primary spherical, dropping him closely.

From that second on Joshua was swimming in opposition to the tide. He was in grave bother on the finish of the third spherical, rising from a brutal knockdown to be saved from a follow-up onslaught by the bell.

Dubois knocked him down once more within the fourth spherical and as AJ bravely tried to rally within the fifth, the IBF champion snuffed that out. A countering proper folded Joshua onto the canvas. He tried to clamber up, however may barely increase his head.

He had been knocked out in gorgeous style.

That left extra inquiries to be requested, as to what was the foundation reason for this downfall, and the place does he go from right here.

Was late arrival an issue?

By the point Joshua arrived at Wembley Stadium, he had little greater than an hour earlier than he was because of make his ringwalk.

Coach Ben Davison acknowledged: “There was a bit of traffic and he did turn up slightly later than we were.

“However being trustworthy, he was very nicely ready. We knew that Daniel was going to begin quick.

“We’ll go back we’ll review what we could have done better of course and go from there.”

Was the gameplan improper?

Did Joshua then merely get his techniques improper? Davison famous: “He knows what he needs to do. There was nothing that Daniel did that shocked us. We were expecting him to do those things. Preparation did go well, we prepared well. So we’ll have to go back and look at that.”

He steered that there have been occasions after they may have taken a unique strategy, saying: “When situations occur, there’s more than one way to skin a cat.

“So maybe among the methods we have been seeking to pores and skin that cat, perhaps there’s some higher choices for sort out these eventualities and conditions.”

But beyond the tactics, it could simply have been Joshua’s technique and execution that was the problem. He is in the advanced stage of his career now.

“There have been just a few errors in there however that is the secret. Advantageous margins will value you on the prime stage,” Joshua said.

Davison noted: “His toes have been lagging slightly bit, he wasn’t as sharp on his toes, that was one thing we spoke about, desirous to defend together with his toes first in conditions the place Daniel was dashing in. Or drop and tie up, we did not need him to sit down there catching for too lengthy. Daniel is heavy-handed.”

But he added: “Me and my staff have acquired a hell of quite a lot of credit score for good performances that he is had, so it is essential that we take accountability for the dangerous efficiency as nicely. So we’re keen to try this.”

Did he have Dubois harm?

There was an on the spot within the fifth spherical, simply earlier than the end got here, when Joshua appeared to shake up Dubois. He couldn’t capitalise and was taken out by an amazing counter-punch.

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn mentioned: “Just had a disastrous start and unfortunately against a big strong puncher it’s hard to recover. He nearly did.

“It was solely actually when the fourth or fifth spherical got here I used to be considering we may begin breaking him down right here.

“Made so many basic errors and still could have won the fight. That’s a positive to take out of.

“While you attempt to land an uppercut and also you get caught by an enormous proper hand, it would not matter who you’re, you are getting knocked out. Sadly it occurred with quite a lot of harm on the clock and that is maybe why it ended the best way it did.”

“A whole lot of fighters would not maintain attempting to struggle the best way AJ did,” trainer Ben Davison said. “He bought off to a surprising begin and was nonetheless within the struggle after such a foul begin. I am simply very, very happy with what he confirmed in there.

“There was a couple of shots he landed [where] he settled things down or hurt Daniel, and then the application after that wasn’t quite what we were looking for.”

Will he now retire?

Joshua didn’t take questions at his post-fight press convention. However he without delay dominated out retirement.

“You’re probably asking if I still want to consider fighting. Of course I want to continue fighting,” he mentioned.

“We took a shot at success and we came up short. What does that mean now? That we’re going to run away? We’re going to live to fight another day. And that’s what I am – I’m a warrior.

“All the time stroll along with your head excessive. We rolled the cube.

“There have been 13 world-title fights, not every one of them has been successful but every one has been fun and entertaining.”

Will he rematch Dubois?

A rematch with Dubois is a chance. “We have a contracted fight with Riyadh Season that could include the Daniel Dubois rematch. I think we need time. I don’t think he could have boxed much worse tonight but you have to give Dubois plenty of credit, he was brilliant. He put the pressure on, we knew that he’d be dangerous in the early part of the fight and the start couldn’t have been worse really. AJ will believe that he can box much better and beat him. But Dubois will be full of confidence,” Hearn mentioned.

“No immediate rush but I know what AJ’s like and he would love to have another crack at him.”

Can the Tyson Fury struggle nonetheless occur?

Nobody’s ruling it out however it’s now extra more likely to occur if Fury loses his rematch with Usyk and will not be on the identical scale as was initially anticipated.

“I think that 2025 is going to be an interesting year for Anthony Joshua one way or the other but he will definitely be back, whether it’s against Daniel Dubois, Tyson Fury, whoever, you’re going to be entertained,” Hearn mentioned.

“We fancied winning tonight and then fighting the winner of Fury against Usyk and we may end up fighting the loser of that fight, maybe if it’s Tyson Fury.”

He thinks that if one other struggle occurs, it will likely be at a big stage.

“Do we want to go and rebuild with another two or three [easier] fights? I don’t think so. But we definitely have to make the right steps.

“It could possibly be the top of the street the following one,” he added. “I simply know he will desire a huge struggle. I do not consider he will wish to come again in February or March and have a run-out.

“I feel like the next decision will be very important.”