Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has been advised against pursuing a rematch with Daniel Dubois by Otto Wallin, a fellow boxer and former opponent. This comes after Dubois delivered an impressive fifth-round knockout against Joshua in their recent IBF heavyweight title bout, igniting speculation about a potential rematch.
Despite this defeat, Joshua remains committed to his boxing career, expressing his desire to continue fighting. He stated, “Of course, I do,” when asked about his future in the sport. Joshua acknowledged the challenges he faced in the fight, admitting, “We took a shot and came up short,” and emphasizing that he is not one to shy away from adversity, declaring himself a “warrior.” He also commended Dubois for his performance, noting, “There were a few mistakes, but that’s the name of the game at this level. Fine margins will cost you. Credit to Daniel, I take my hat off to him.”
Wallin, the former WBA Continental heavyweight champion, raised concerns about Joshua’s readiness for a rematch, suggesting that unless Joshua is completely confident, he should avoid the fight. He remarked in an interview with Boxing News, “I wouldn’t advise it. For now, there’s no reason for a rematch. Dubois landed too easily on Joshua, and defensively, Joshua wasn’t prepared for Dubois’ power.”
Reflecting on the fight, Wallin pointed out that while Joshua had demonstrated good defensive skills in their bout, his performance against Dubois was lacking. He observed that Joshua had his hands low and his chin up during the fight, which made him vulnerable to Dubois’ powerful punches. Wallin noted, “Dubois landed everything. That was his night.”
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