Eddie Hearn expects Anthony Joshua to activate his rematch clause in opposition to 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 shocked 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 largest win of his profession in entrance of a 96,000 sell-out crowd.
Dubois knocks out Joshua within the fifth spherical with a damaging efficiency
“I believe he [Joshua] will train that rematch clause, I believe that is a given,” stated Matchroom CEO Hearn post-fight. “He’ll want a relaxation and it is a harmful struggle, this man is rising in confidence on a regular basis.
“He’ll consider he can harm Dubois, he’ll consider he can beat him. However full credit score to Daniel Dubois, he deserves all of the credit score, it was a terrific efficiency.”
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 environment.
“It was the primary spherical, after that he was combating on coronary heart and want. I am so proud as a result of he by no means gave up, his legs have been deceiving him and he stored on attempting,” stated Hearn.
“If you end up in there with a large puncher that is what can occur. He by no means stopped attempting to rise up, even when he could not rise up on the finish.
“Daniel deserves credit score, he is an actual world champion. Congratulations to him.”
Joshua admitted he made plenty of errors however this isn’t the top of his boxing profession
Joshua was magnanimous in defeat as he provided reward to Dubois after a career-best efficiency, vowing to return once more.
“Credit score to him and his workforce. We rolled the cube of success, however we got here up quick,” stated Joshua in his post-fight interview.
“You recognize I am able to kick off within the ring, however I will hold my cool, hold very skilled, and provides respect to my opponent.
“I am all the time saying to myself I am a fighter for all times… We hold rolling the cube.
“I had a pointy opponent, a quick opponent and a whole lot of errors from my finish, however that is the sport.”
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, will even have his sights set on Usyk as he seems to be for payback from his personal defeat to the Ukrainian nice.
