When Anthony Joshua made his way to Wembley Stadium, he failed to realize the potential of his silent assassin. He fell prey to the man in towel-cut attire, who emulated Mike Tyson in every aspect of their fight. When Daniel Dubois was done with him, he found himself face flat on the canvas, still reeling from the effect of a straight right on his chin. The result is already posing a difficult question. What’s next for the former world champion? It seems he might have a couple more fights left in him. But who should he fight next?
Joshua didn’t anticipate an onslaught from the first bell, and because of his defensive gaps and his inability to nullify Dubois’ power, he tasted defeat after his two fights with Oleksandr Usyk. His priority now would be to build back and fast, and he might have a top name on his list, which might be waiting for a fight himself, Deontay Wilder.
Joshua and Wilder had flirted with the idea of unification, but a fight between the two never materialized when they were champions. Now with freshly added losses to their resumes, the two can give fans a fight they wanted some years back. Despite ‘The Bronze Bomber’s recent slump in form and performance, he remains a top bill in the heavyweight division.
In addition, the two have a fan-friendly style, and the fans will be eager to witness an exciting fight with fast-paced action. Both fighters will go for the kill, and it might very well be the last time the fans will see them fight inside the ring. Therefore, nostalgia and explosive action will pull the fans. However, Joshua, 34, might have to push this fight below the pecking order, if he decides to pursue a rematch and wants to exact revenge against ‘Dynamite.’
Rematch with Daniel Dubois
Given the opportunity to fight the winner of Usyk vs. Tyson Fury for the undisputed crown and the timings, the fight had included a rematch clause. Eddie Hearn had recently disclosed the same, as he hinted toward a probable rematch between the two as they wait for Usyk and Fury to settle their fights. The rematch clause allows Joshua to brush aside this loss as an anomaly and bounce back and insert himself once again into the title picture.
‼️ Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois has a rematch clause, Eddie Hearn has revealed.
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) September 21, 2024
Dubois, at 27, is only entering his prime years and he would happily take the fight against Joshua to prove his mantle once again and solidify his position as a top heavyweight fighter. But what if the winner of Usyk vs. Fury decides to have a go at Dubois first and early? That leaves Joshua in a tight spot.
An all-British affair with Derek Chisora
Joshua, at 28-4, might fancy a bout with Derek Chisora, who has reinvented himself at 40 and is now on a hot streak of two wins. ‘Del Boy’ is coming off a win against Joe Joyce in July this year and has shown signs of mounting a challenge at the top soon. Irrespective of Chisora’s recent tumultuous phase and his rejuvenation, he remains a household name to date.
Chisora, at 35-13, will look to push for a last title shot, and it could go through Joshua. It will be a clash of two veterans, which could effectively curtail the defeated boxer’s career. But it would attract enough eyeballs, and a win would be considered enough to ignite either of the boxer’s careers. But Chisora could take some time before entering the ring again, depending on how his body feels at this age. That leaves Joshua with two more names.
Anthony Joshua: surprise picks
Joye, 39, has witnessed a downward slope in his recent fights, with the record reading 1-3 in his last four fights. The heavyweight boxer is also coming from a loss against Chisora and needs to jump back into the game with another big name. Joshua fits the bill for him and vice versa. However, it remains to be seen whether ‘Juggernaut’s body can recover from the punishment of the last few fights.
The last name on the list is Jarrell Miller. The Brooklyn native has turned in mixed results in the last couple of fights, where he showed heart against Andy Ruiz Jr. but also became a victim of Dubois’ power. With his career quickly drawing curtails because of increasing age, he might have to pick a fighter, who has been a world champion to improve his chances. Miller is also a perfect opponent for Joshua, who would want to polish his skills first. There is no surety of who Joshua will pick next, but there might be a strong possibility of a rematch with Dubois. After all, a fight for revenge and gold is too sweet a deal to pass on.
