What happens next for Joshua after another loss? Can Dubois beat Usyk and Fury?

LONDON – Anthony Joshua's career was not ruined by Saturday's devastating knockout loss to IBF heavyweight title-challenging Daniel Dubois. But Joshua's latest setback has us wondering if we'll ever see him face former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.

Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs) sent Joshua to the mat four times in rounds 1, 3, 4 and 5, and the image of the two-time heavyweight champion lying flat and being counted out at the end had some wondering if that was the end for Joshua.

A fourth professional loss, and a devastating one at that, could be career-ending for some boxers. But not for Joshua, who is the second-highest-paid boxer on the latest Forbes list of highest-paid athletes. (Joshua came in at number 16 with annual earnings of $83 million, two spots behind super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez with annual earnings of $85 million.)

As long as Joshua wants to keep fighting, he will continue to receive big offers, despite being pushed around in the ring at Wembley Stadium in front of 96,000 fans and a worldwide television audience.

Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) will want a rematch, but Dubois, 27, could opt to face the winner of the December 21 Fury-Oleksandr Usyk fight for a chance to become undisputed champion.

Joshua-Fury is running out of time

Joshua now awaits the result on December 21 and whether the winner of that mega-fight in Saudi Arabia will face Dubois. It seems unlikely that Joshua will go from a knockout to a title shot against Fury next year – should Fury beat Usyk – but even if Fury loses, a fight between Fury and Joshua in 2025 is not out of the question.

Fury-Joshua is a bigger fight than any other in the division in terms of the money and interest that can be generated. It would be the biggest fight ever held on British soil, and the biggest in boxing for some time. The fight was valued at $200 million in 2020, and promoters have tried and failed to organize the fight on more than one occasion. Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn, who handles Joshua, recently said he hoped Fury-Joshua would be a two-fight event, one in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and the other in London (either at Wembley Stadium or Tottenham Hotspur Stadium).

But time is running out for both 34-year-old Joshua and 36-year-old Fury, which is why Hearn has repeatedly said in recent days that the fight must take place next year. But for Hearn, a rematch with Dubois is now the top priority.

“I'm sure he'll invoke that rematch clause,” Hearn said afterwards. “I mean, I think that goes without saying, but he's going to need a break and it's a dangerous fight. This guy is [Dubois] His confidence is constantly growing, but he believes he can hurt Dubois. He believes he can beat him.”

Fury vs. Joshua may have to wait. Again.

There will still be a desire to see the two English rivals clash, but Dubois has already put himself in the spotlight for a big fight in 2025. The winner of the Usyk-Fury rematch in Saudi Arabia could now prioritise a unification title fight against Dubois.

Dubois will also relish the chance to draw level with Usyk should he beat Fury, having lost to Usyk by stoppage last year. And with Dubois and Fury promoted by Frank Warren, a clash between them in the first half of 2025 would be easily possible.

Will AJ ever be the same again?

This isn't the last time we've seen Joshua in big fights, but it does make you wonder if he'll ever be able to win a major title again.

The fifth-round loss to Dubois certainly raises questions about Joshua's ability to win against Usyk and Fury. Joshua froze and became an easy target for the grateful Andy Ruiz Jr., who scored a surprise stoppage win in 2019. Joshua then looked to be an easy target for Dubois as his hands were deep as he was caught for the first knockdown in round 1.

“You're probably wondering if I want to keep fighting,” Joshua said in the post-fight press conference. “Of course I want to keep fighting. That's what I said: We tried to be successful and we failed. What does that mean now? Are we going to run away?” [Or] Will we live to fight another day?”

One question is whether Joshua can handle high-pressure situations. Since working with trainer Ben Davison last December, Joshua has looked confident, tactically smart and vicious in his stoppage victories over Otto Wallin in 2023 and Francis Ngannou last March. Joshua must be hoping that he lost due to tactical errors and that with a few adjustments he can avenge that defeat in a quick rematch.

But after a period of good form, the old questions about Joshua's resistance to punches have resurfaced and the road to his third world title has become more difficult.