Is Anthony Joshua’s next defeat the beginning of the end?

Anthony Joshua does not find it easy to praise other professional boxers. And so his compliment to Daniel Dubois, who demolished him in thirteen minutes in front of 96,000 spectators at Wembley Arena on Saturday evening, was rather obligatory.

The two-time former heavyweight world champion mentioned a “fierce opponent”, without mentioning his name, as the first reason for his fourth defeat in twelve years of professional life. Joshua cited his own shortcomings as the second reason: “I made a lot of mistakes”. The Briton then used the image of gambling: he and his team had “rolled the dice for success” in the fight against his compatriot for the IBF boxing association’s world title and had “drawn the short straw”.

Joshua gets involved in a wild brawl

Just the wrong day? Anyone who has taken a closer look will hardly be satisfied with such succinct formulas. It was gruesome how the 1.98 meter tall giant from north London threw almost all the rules of the boxing school overboard twelve years after his Olympic victory and got involved in a wild brawl – against one of the most feared punchers in the heavyweight division. In the first round he was caught by a far-fetched swing and knocked to the ground. Before the brutal end, spurred on by two direct hits of his own, he actually went “all in” with his unprotected head first – until a short, powerful hook to the chin brought him down decisively. A rookie mistake, demonstrated by what was once the best heavyweight of his era.

“AJ,” as the son of Nigerian immigrants calls himself, fell to the ground at least four times in the spectacular fight. The fifth and sixth times, the referees and the break bell saved him. The model athlete was not seen so unfocused even in 2019 in New York, when he was similarly badly prepared and allowed himself to be torn apart by the unsung American boxer Andy Ruiz Jr.

This time, the signs were more favorable. After the point losses against Olexander Usik (2021 and 2022), had he not spoken at every opportunity of “rededication”, of returning to what defines him as an athlete? And in the three victorious fights before that, did he not seem as pure, as focused as he once did during his steep rise to the top of the world?

He made it there on that memorable evening in April 2017, when the then 27-year-old defeated Wladimir Klitschko, 14 years his senior, at the same venue, Wembley, after dramatic twists and turns. Joshua wobbled several times there too, but in the end he got up one more time than the Ukrainian. As a reward, the beaming winner received two of the most important world championship belts as well as the ennoblement of the loser, who predicted a brilliant career for him.

As a result, Joshua has earned several hundred million dollars to date with the help of his promoter Eddie Hearn from appearances in Cardiff, London and Saudi Arabia. This does not include the sums he receives for lucrative advertising contracts.

But last Saturday, the 27-year-old up-and-comer at Wembley was Daniel “Dynamite” Dubois, aka “DDD” – while Joshua was the horizontal senior just over three weeks before his 34th birthday. Although this age is not alarming for a heavyweight, the impression was that things had come full circle in the Wembley Arena: Joshua was usually the better fighter technically and strategically before being outdone twice by Olexander Usik. He was also considered a dangerous puncher for a long time – but now Dubois has surpassed him in this brutal art. The American ring legend Archie Moore once said: “Age is like a bulldozer. It clears you out of the way as soon as you stop moving.”

Joshua wants to continue

So what could Anthony Joshua still achieve, seven and a half years and thirteen fights after his victory against Klitschko? The top tier of his weight class is dominated by two world champions he has already lost to: Usyk and Dubois. That leaves Tyson Fury as the last option for the next mega fight. But the gifted eccentric from central England wants to take revenge in December for his defeat in the first world championship fight for all four titles against Usik. What will happen after that, no one knows.

After 32 fights (28 wins), there would be no better way for “AJ” to leave the dangerous business than this autumn. English observers are also advising him to do so. “Joshua should enjoy his fortune on the safe side of the ropes,” wrote the “Guardian”.

But that is exactly what the once best boxer in the world seems to rule out. As long as his name is still filling stadiums, Joshua wants to take the huge sums of money and the participation in the live streams. He explains his strong grasping reflex with the experience of growing up in a poor family. The loser flirted with a rematch against Dubois while still in the belly of the Wembley Arena. The fall is huge, however: many an ageing boxing star has not only lost their reputation in the ring, but also a valuable part of their health. No amount of money in the world can compensate for that.