Eddie Hearn expects Anthony Joshua to activate his rematch clause towards Daniel Dubois following his devastating knockout defeat at Wembley Stadium.Â
Joshua was floored a number of instances in a blistering show from Dubois earlier than lastly being stopped by an explosive proper hand within the fifth spherical.
The decisive second had arrived simply seconds after Joshua thought he had made a breakthrough by wobbling Dubois, who surprised Wembley by countering emphatically to ship the previous unified world champion tumbling to the canvas.
In doing so Dubois would cement his credentials as IBF world heavyweight champion whereas celebrating the most important win of his profession in entrance of a 96,000 sell-out crowd.
“I think he [Joshua] will exercise that rematch clause, I think that’s a given,” mentioned Matchroom CEO Hearn post-fight. “He’ll want a relaxation and it is a harmful combat, this man is rising in confidence on a regular basis.
“He’ll believe he can hurt Dubois, he’ll believe he can beat him. But full credit to Daniel Dubois, he deserves all the credit, it was a great performance.”
Joshua was knocked down within the opening spherical with a thunderous overhand proper from Dubois, by no means fairly recovering as he endured wave after wave of punishment amid a raucous Wembley ambiance.
“It was the first round, after that he was fighting on heart and desire. I’m so proud because he never gave up, his legs were deceiving him and he kept on trying,” mentioned Hearn.
“When you are in there with a massive puncher this is what can happen. He never stopped trying to get up, even when he couldn’t get up at the end.
“Daniel deserves credit score, he is an actual world champion. Congratulations to him.”
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Joshua admitted he made numerous errors however this isn’t the tip of his boxing profession
Joshua was magnanimous in defeat as he supplied reward to Dubois after a career-best efficiency, vowing to return once more.
“Credit to him and his team. We rolled the dice of success, but we came up short,” mentioned Joshua in his post-fight interview.
“You know I’m ready to kick off in the ring, but I’m going to keep my cool, keep very professional, and give respect to my opponent.
“I am all the time saying to myself I am a fighter for all times… We maintain rolling the cube.
“I had a sharp opponent, a fast opponent and a lot of mistakes from my end, but that’s the game.”
Defeat for Joshua casts additional query marks over the prospect of a gathering with Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury, who will face off in a rematch in Saudi Arabia later this 12 months.
Dubois, nonetheless simply 27-years-old, may even have his sights set on Usyk as he appears to be like for payback from his personal defeat to the Ukrainian nice.
