Former world champion Carl Froch has warned Anthony Joshua to steer clear of an immediate rematch with Daniel Dubois following his stunning fifth-round knockout loss on September 21 at Wembley Stadium.
Froch believes that Joshua should take the time he needs to recover and evaluate his next moves rather than rushing back into competition. “I don’t think jumping straight into a rematch with Dubois is the right move,” Froch stated.
“Had the fight gone differently, there might have been a case for it. But for now, Joshua should return to the gym for some light sparring and see how the situation unfolds with Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk in their upcoming rematch. This will give him the opportunity to regroup and reflect on how much he really wants that fight.”
Joshua’s defeat, in which he was knocked down multiple times before succumbing, has raised questions about the future of the British-Nigerian boxer. His promoter, Eddie Hearn, recently noted that Joshua, 34, is still grappling with the loss. “It’s still fresh, just three weeks ago,” Hearn told DAZN.
“He’s devastated, but there’s a window in AJ’s contract for making a decision, and that window isn’t closed yet. He’s taking time to rest his body and think carefully about his next steps.”
While there is no formal rematch clause, reports indicate that Joshua has one fight remaining under his Riyadh Season agreement.
Both Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, and Dubois have shown interest in organizing a rematch.
As Joshua weighs his options, the IBF has set a deadline for Dubois to make a voluntary title defense, adding further pressure on the former two-time heavyweight champion.
