Anthony Joshua’s only realistic option now is to fight Fury next

Anthony Joshua faces the most difficult decision of his career after his catastrophic defeat by Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium.

The 34-year-old two-time world heavyweight champion is coming under pressure to retire, but he could invoke a rematch clause with his 27-year-old nemesis, Dubois.

Would such a meeting be wise at this point for Joshua, or should he wait for a contest with Tyson Fury next year and then call it a day?

One thing is certain. It will be difficult for the Watford-born fighter to rebuild his reputation after another defeat which has damaged his legacy.

This was a worse mauling than the shock world title defeat to Andy Ruiz in New York in 2019, when the Briton suffered four knockdowns. Joshua also suffered back-to-back losses on points to Oleksandr Usyk, who is currently the No 1 world heavyweight.

After four victories for Joshua on the bounce, Wembley should have been the stage for him become a three-time heavyweight champion, following in the footsteps of Muhammad Ali, Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis.

Joshua lacked technique if not heart

Joshua has always said he would “fight the best” and in Dubois he came up against one of the most destructive heavyweights in the division in front of a record-breaking 96,000 crowd and was found wanting — not much in terms of desire or heart, but certainly in technique.

Having arrived at Wembley late, Joshua was caught out early by Dubois and was never allowed to settle by the invading younger fighter. There was a listless quality about Joshua, who was too upright, and when he was caught by a huge right hand in the opening moments, had his hands low, when he should have been blocking the assault. A momentary lapse, perhaps, but it cost him dear.

The rematch was revealed minutes after the fight ended by Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn, But such a step would seem foolhardy right now if the boxer wants to resurrect his career.

Hearn could argue that Joshua hurt Dubois with a series of right hands in the fifth round before being knocked out. And Ben Davison, Joshua’s trainer, explained yesterday that in spite of four torrid rounds, Joshua had said to his corner during the break that “these are the moments we live for” and that he was “rolling the dice”. But the gamble backfired less than a minute into the fifth round.

It would seem unwise for Joshua to step back in the ring so soon against an opponent who felled him four times and delivered 49 power punches with dangerous intent.

Fury the sensible option

The hunch is that as calamitous as Saturday night was, Joshua will not yet retire from the sport. He intimated as much post-fight. The sensible option would be to face Fury — a long-awaited fight which would still attract generate interest. A clash with Deontay Wilder is another possibility but Fury would seem the more judicious option.

Dubois, meanwhile, is now primed to become one of the major players in the division. The holder of the International Boxing Federation belt truly showed his mettle in the biggest fight of his career — in stark contrast to the time when he was labelled “a quitter”, unfairly, for taking a knee after breaking his orbital socket against Joe Joyce.

Frank Warren, Dubois’ promoter, could push for the Londoner to face the winner of the December 21 Fury-Usyk rematch in Riyadh and possibly acquire the other three major belts held by the Ukrainian. But given Dubois has fought four times in 13 months, Warren’s man might now take a well-earned rest.

There was nothing shy about Dubois in his moment on glory, however. “Are you not entertained?” he yelled, after his victory, in a reference, perhaps, to the movie Gladiator. “I’m a gladiator, I’m a warrior to the bitter end. This is my time, my redemption story and I won’t stop until I reach my full potential. And I wasn’t going to be denied tonight.”