Anthony Joshua Suspended for 28 Days Following Knockout Loss to Daniel Dubois
By Trek Africa Newspaper
The British Boxing Board of Control has imposed a 28-day suspension on Anthony Joshua following his recent knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium. This decision comes after the two-time heavyweight champion suffered a brutal loss, hitting the canvas three times before ultimately being knocked out in the fifth round by Dubois’s powerful right hand.
Medical suspensions like this are common practice in boxing, particularly after a fighter experiences a technical knockout (TKO) or knockout (KO) loss. While Joshua currently has no upcoming fights scheduled, this month-long hiatus is not expected to hinder his career trajectory significantly.
Following the fight, opinions regarding Joshua’s future in boxing have been varied. Notably, former champion Carl Froch expressed strong criticism of Joshua’s performance, suggesting that he should consider retiring from the sport. On his YouTube channel, Froch stated, “Anthony Joshua got absolutely battered from pillar to post. He lacked ambition, he lacked self-belief and confidence. His powers of recovery are terrible, he looked exhausted. I question Anthony Joshua’s desire to be in that boxing ring anymore. I don’t think AJ wants it anymore; he shouldn’t be boxing. That performance was weak.”
Contrarily, Matchroom Boxing chief Eddie Hearn remains optimistic about Joshua’s future, indicating that there are still opportunities for him to reclaim his standing in the heavyweight division. Speaking to iFL TV, Hearn laid out potential scenarios, including a possible rematch with Dubois or a high-stakes bout against Tyson Fury, stating, “If Fury was to lose maybe they both say, ‘Right, let’s give the public one last hurrah, two big fights, done’. Or, if Fury wins, he could defend against AJ for the unified world heavyweight title and AJ could beat him and become a three-time heavyweight champion. Anything’s possible. Or we could rematch Daniel Dubois. Or he could fight someone else.”
Joshua himself has expressed a desire to continue fighting, revealing that he has a rematch clause he can activate to challenge Dubois again. Despite the setback, he remains determined not to be defined by this defeat and is eager to demonstrate that he still has what it takes to compete at the highest level.
