Promoters, former boxers speak out on Anthony Joshua’s next steps after Daniel Dubois defeat

Ever since Anthony Joshua's devastating loss to Daniel Dubois on Sept. 21, speculation has been running wild on the 34-year-old's next career move.

Due to Dubois' convincing victory, flooring Joshua four times en route to a stoppage, many fans called for Joshua to consider retirement. However, following the contest, he quickly dismissed this during his post-fight news conference at Wembley Stadium.

According to promoter Eddie Hearn, a rematch will likely occur, with Joshua eager to get another crack at Dubois. 

"If it was up to AJ [Joshua], straight rematch. But he will take the advice of me and 258 [Management] and Ben Davison and everybody and then he will make the decision," Hearn recently told FightHub."But it will be a decision that probably comes in the next couple of weeks."

Hearn has repeatedly claimed that a rematch clause was present in the fight contract. Dubois' promoter, Frank Warren, publicly stated that he is open to a second fight but insists that his fighter should not rush the process. 

"I haven't got a problem with a rematch if they want to do it and the terms are all okay. But it is too soon," Warren told talkSPORT. "He needs to savor the moment, he has shown what he is all about now fighting four world-ranked fighters this year."

Despite this, a rerun is being heavily touted in February 2025, with reports suggesting the fight could head to the Middle East under Riyadh Season. Former British heavyweight champion David Price has claimed that a rematch with Dubois is a "win-win" for Joshua. Additionally, he believes that a long-awaited British super-fight with Tyson Fury is still on the table regardless of the outcome. 

"If he goes straight into the rematch, the two outcomes are he wins and puts right the wrongs straight away which is great, or he loses again and gets knocked out again which has already happened anyway," said Price. "There will still be a Tyson Fury fight, there will still be a Deontay Wilder, there is still a Big Bang Zhang fight. So it’s win win for Anthony Joshua to take the rematch straight away. Absolute win-win.”

On the other hand, former boxer Paulie Malignaggi believes that Joshua needs a rebuilding fight to regain some confidence instead of jumping into a rematch with Dubois. 

"I tell you what, if you're going to do a rematch I want to see him with something in between," said Malignaggi. "I wouldn't want to see a direct rematch. Because I don't think you go into a fight like that where he got physically manhandled. He got knocked out and he now needs a confidence builder to see where you're at."

Whether AJ would entertain another fight other than a Dubois rematch remains to be seen. The general assumption is that he is keen to avenge his defeat to the IBF heavyweight champion and become a three-time world champion.