Anthony Joshua can’t afford a loss in opposition to IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois this Saturday night time. Joshua’s superior age and his latest two-year rebuild after consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk preclude him from shedding once more in any case that work.
(Credit score: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)
Promoter Eddie Hearn says a “loss” will not be in AJ’s thought processes, however he may nonetheless lose to Dubois (21-2, 20 KOs). That might be disastrous for Joshua, doubtlessly throwing off his plans to face Tyson Fury in 2025 in a British mega-fight.
“They’ve been saying that for the reason that Ruiz 2 struggle. ‘If he loses this, is his profession over?’” mentioned Eddie Hearn on the DAZN boxing channel about Anthony Joshua being in a must-win struggle in opposition to Daniel Dubois on Saturday night time.
“You set to work your method up the board, and while you fall down, it’s a good distance again. After the Usyk defeat, he’s accomplished that. He’s labored himself proper again on prime of the board, and on Saturday, he’s acquired an opportunity to be a King as soon as extra,” mentioned Hearn about Joshua.
Hearn has acquired to be frightened a few potential loss for Joshua as a result of he put in all that point and work along with his latest lengthy climb again to this second. It took Joshua two years to return again, and if he will get crushed by Dubois, it is going to all have been wasted. Hearn would have been higher off bringing again Joshua quicker.
“You get beat. You fall proper again down once more, and the rebuild course of is arduous; it’s a protracted job, and it’s a protracted highway again. For us, there is just one factor that we’ve got to do and that’s win. A loss will not be even within the thought course of,” mentioned Hearn.
“His age. There’s a bit extra stress on the age. Attempt to pile just a little bit extra on, you realize?” mentioned promoter Frank Warren about Joshua being up there in age.
Hearn may not wish to point out the potential of Joshua shedding to Dubois, however it’s very actual. He may lose as a result of that is the kind of puncher that Joshua hasn’t ever confronted throughout his profession.
Even when AJ fought Wladimir Klitschko in 2017, he wasn’t coping with a slugger on the extent of Dubois. Klitschko was 41, previous it, and never the fearless, aggressive fighter Joshua will face on Saturday night time.
“That’s the fantastic thing about this struggle. It’s not somebody coming off a loss that could be a bit shaky. It’s not somebody coming off controversy the place their coronary heart is in query,” mentioned Hearn.
“Dubois seems to be like he’s acquired the bit between his enamel once more. The doubts and the questions which have been there prior to now [are no longer there]. He seems to be like he’s a brand new fighter.”
Dubois has modified since his loss to Oleksandr Usyk in 2023. He’s much more aggressive now, and he gained’t again off or give up if the going will get robust.
He was given a nasty deal in his match in opposition to Usyk when the referee blew a name by not giving him credit score for a knockout within the fifth spherical when he dropped him with a physique shot.
“AJ, the questions of ‘Does he nonetheless acquired it?’ He seems to be higher than ever beneath Ben Davison,” mentioned Hearn.
Joshua seems to be higher than ever based mostly on the restricted stage of opposition he’s confronted within the two fights since hiring Ben Davison as his coach. These weren’t world-class fighters Joshua not too long ago beat along with his victories over Francis Ngannou and Otto Wallin. Dubois is the true factor, and we’ll see whether or not Joshua is actually “higher than ever” or if that is simply extra lip service from Hearn.
