Former world champion Carl Froch has advised Anthony Joshua to avoid rushing into an immediate rematch with Daniel Dubois.
Froch, a respected figure in the boxing community, believes Joshua needs time to regroup after 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 a case for it. But Joshua should head back to the gym, do some light sparring, and see how things unfold between Fury and Usyk in their rematch. This will give him time to regroup and assess how much he truly wants that fight.”
The bout, where Joshua was knocked down multiple times before the final knockout, has left the British-Nigerian fighter at a career crossroads. His promoter, Eddie Hearn, recently revealed that the 34-year-old is still coming to terms with the loss. “It’s still fresh—only three weeks ago. He’s devastated by the defeat,” Hearn told DAZN. “There’s a period of time in AJ’s contract for him to make a decision, and that time hasn’t passed yet, but he’s thinking hard. He’s resting his body and figuring out his next steps.”
Despite Froch’s advice, some in the boxing world are pushing for an immediate rematch. Veteran heavyweight Derek Chisora believes Joshua should seek redemption without delay.
“He should jump on the rematch straight away,” Chisora said on ‘The Stomping Ground’. “Shout out to Daniel Dubois, the new champion, but Joshua should go for it, bro. What else is he going to do?”
Heavyweight contender Zhilei Zhang also weighed in, backing Dubois to repeat his victory if a rematch happens. “This defeat—I don’t know where it leaves him mentally, but I think a rematch would be a worst-case scenario for Joshua,” Zhang told Seconds Out.
While there is no formal rematch clause, sources suggest that Joshua has one fight remaining under his Riyadh Season deal. Both Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, and Dubois have shown 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 critical as Joshua considers his options, balancing his desire for immediate redemption with the need for careful preparation in a heavyweight division that remains unpredictable and thrilling.
