Joshua warned against Dubois rematch

Former world champion Carl Froch has cautioned Anthony Joshua against rushing into an immediate rematch with Daniel Dubois, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Froch, a respected voice in the boxing community, believes Joshua should take time to regroup following his shocking fifth-round knockout loss to Dubois on September 21 at Wembley.

“Honestly, I don’t think he should go straight into an immediate rematch with Dubois,” Froch said. “If the fight had gone differently, there might have been an argument for it. But Joshua should head back to the gym, do some light sparring, and see what happens between Fury and Usyk in their rematch. This will give him some time to regroup and figure out how much he really wants that fight.”

The bout, which saw Joshua floored multiple times before the final knockout, has left the British-Nigerian fighter at a crossroads in his career, but his promoter, Eddie Hearn, recently revealed that the 34-year-old is still coming to terms with the defeat.

“It’s still quite fresh, only three weeks ago. He’s devastated by the defeat,” Hearn told DAZN. “There’s a period of time within AJ’s contract where he has to make a decision, and it’s not up yet, but he’s thinking hard. He’s resting his body and figuring out what he wants to do.”

Despite Froch’s advice, some in the boxing world are pushing for an immediate rematch. Veteran heavyweight Derek Chisora believes Joshua should waste no time in seeking redemption.

“He should jump on the rematch straight away,” Chisora said on ‘The Stomping Ground’. “Listen, shout out to Daniel Dubois, the new champion, but Joshua should go for it, bro. What else is he going to do?”

Adding to the intrigue, heavyweight contender Zhilei Zhang has backed Dubois to repeat his victory if a rematch occurs. “This defeat—I don’t know where it puts him mentally, but I think the rematch will be a worst-case scenario for Joshua,” Zhang told Seconds Out.

While there is no explicit rematch clause, sources indicate that Joshua has one more fight left on his Riyadh Season deal. Both Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, and Dubois have expressed interest in making the rematch happen.

As Joshua contemplates his next move, the IBF has set a deadline for Dubois to make a voluntary title defence, adding pressure to the decision-making process.

The coming weeks will be crucial as Joshua weighs his options, balancing the desire for immediate redemption against the need for careful preparation in a heavyweight division that remains as unpredictable and exciting as ever.