Saturday night’s knockout loss to Daniel Dubois sparked suggestions Anthony Joshua may have to retire – but there are 100 million reasons why it won’t be the end of his storied career.
Dubois knocked out AJ in the fifth round in front of 98,000 fans at Wembley on Saturday in a shock result that left many questioning whether it might be the end for one of British boxing’s biggest names.
Defeat in the IBF world heavyweight title bout left Joshua, 34, not only sprawled out on the canvas but also with doubts over how he can recover and continue in the sport.
But Joshua is unlikely to retire from boxing despite the criticism from pundits and fans alike, many of whom have suggested he is finished. The Olympic gold medallist said after the fight that he would carry on and he doubled down in an Instagram post on Monday.
Several factors point toward AJ continuing his career, from contractual obligations to his personal drive to further his legacy in the sport.
+12
Saturday night’s knockout loss to Daniel Dubois may have been a tough setback for Anthony Joshua , but it won’t be the end of his storied career
+12
Dubois knocked out AJ in the fifth round in front of 98,000 fans at Wembley in a shock result that left many questioning whether it might be the end for one of boxing’s biggest names
+12
But, several factors point toward AJ continuing his career, from contractual obligations to his personal drive to further his legacy in the sport
Contractual ties with Saudi Arabia
One major reason Joshua will not step away from the ring is his contractual commitment to Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season.
Riyadh Season and the Saudi sports scene has become a lucrative market for high-profile boxing events, and Joshua has been at the forefront.
Joshua is contracted to fight again on a Riyadh Season card, meaning AJ will most likely return to the ring for at least one more bout under the controversial Saudi umbrella.
AJ is making career-high figures for participating in Riyadh Season, further reducing the chances of him walking away.
Joshua is said to have made up to £9million for his fight against Otto Wallin and £38m for his fight against Francis Ngannou, according to AS.
Fury, who was ringside for AJ’s defeat to Dubois, joked after the fight that AJ had cost him £150m – the sum they were set to pocket for a potential British blockbuster bout.
In an exclusive column for Mail Sport, boxing legend Johnny Nelson said money was the one reason AJ would fight on, given the sums involved have never been more lucrative.
+12
One major reason Joshua will not step away from the ring is his contractual commitment to Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season
Anthony Joshua ‘overestimated’ Dubois in loss, says Dillian Whyte
Deal with Matchroom and DAZN
Joshua’s business arrangements further complicate any thoughts of retirement. He is currently two years into a £100million-a-year, five-year deal with DAZN.
Additionally, the 34-year-old boxer is tied into a lifetime deal with Matchroom Boxing, Eddie Hearn‘s promotional powerhouse.
Walking away from boxing at this point would not just mean retiring from the ring, but potentially renegotiating or losing lucrative business opportunities.
Joshua is far more likely to see out his contract with DAZN and pocket as much money as he can with Matchroom before finally calling it a day.
It remains to be seen whether AJ’s deal with Matchroom guarantees Joshua a future in the sport beyond his in-ring career, whether through promotional work or other boxing-related activities.
+12
Joshua’s business arrangements further complicate any thoughts of retirement. He is currently two years into a £100million a year five-year deal
Derek Chisora backs Daniel Dubois to beat Usyk in a rematch
The desire to further cement his legacy
At 34 years old, Joshua’s career has been full of both highs and lows. But he is undoubtedly still driven by his desire to further his legacy in boxing.
One of the key ways he can achieve this is by finally facing and defeating his heavyweight rivals Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder.
Despite setbacks, including the demolition job at the hands of Dubois, the public and media still clamour for a Joshua-Fury showdown, which would be one of the biggest fights in British boxing history.
Both Joshua and Fury have expressed interest in fighting each other, and Joshua is unlikely to retire without taking another shot at his domestic rival.
Joshua has also stated he is still interested in taking on Wilder – despite the fact the Bronze Bomber suffered back-to-back defeats to Joseph Parker and Zhilei ZHang.
+12
At 34 years old, Joshua’s career has been full of both highs and lows. However, he is undoubtedly still driven by his desire to further his legacy in boxing
+12
One of AJ’s most notable nights came when he defeated Wladimir Klitschko in the IBF, WBA and IBO heavyweight world title bout at Wembley in 2017
Anthony Joshua says he wants to continue boxing career after defeat
Redemption and resilience
Throughout his career, Joshua has demonstrated an ability to bounce back from losses. His defeats to Andy Ruiz Jr. and Oleksandr Usyk were followed by successful attempts at rebuilding and improving his performance in the ring.
Joshua jumped straight back into a rematch with Ruiz Jr and emerged victorious. He also beat Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin and Francis Ngannou after his second loss to Usyk.
Although the above were not deemed credible opponents prior to the Dubois fight, they did demonstrate AJ’s ability to dust himself off and rebuild.
Joshua has always expressed a deep connection to the sport and has repeatedly stated that he enjoys the process of training, learning, and getting better.
The defeat to Dubois will serve as motivation for Joshua to redeem himself, prove his doubters wrong, and re-establish his position among boxing’s elite.
+12
Throughout his career, Joshua has demonstrated an ability to bounce back from losses
Hearn: Anthony Joshua would like another crack at Daniel Dubois
His love for boxing
Above all else, Joshua’s love for boxing will likely keep him in the sport. His passion for fighting and his continued dedication to the craft suggest that he won’t walk away just yet.
He has often spoken about his respect for the sport and the lifestyle that comes with it. Retirement would mean leaving behind something that has been an essential part of his life for over a decade. Joshua still has unfinished business in the ring, and his love for the sport will push him to keep fighting.
