Trainer Tony Sims points out that Anthony Joshua’s recent setback in his loss to Daniel Dubois is a sign of him getting old, as all fighters do sooner or later if they stay around the sport.
Matching Carefully
Joshua can still win if matched carefully, as his promoter Eddie Hearn had done for him recently, until his knockout defeat against Dubois. AJ has got enough left to defeat Tyson Fury next and continue on, but it would require that Hearn match him against non-punchers.
The 35-year-old Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) suffered his fourth career defeat, losing to IBF heavyweight champion Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs) by a fifth-round knockout on September 21st in front of a large crowd of 96,000 fans at Wembley Stadium in London.
Joshua had looked good in his four previous fights against tune-up opposition, but he was overmatched against Dubois and was dropped four times in the fight.
It looked at one point like the referee was going to stop the contest in the fourth round after Joshua was dropped, but he seemed to change his mind when he saw AJ getting up. Many felt the fight should have been waved off.
“He’s had a fantastic career, but everyone gets old. There’s always the youngsters coming through, and Daniel Dubois was that young man coming through,” said Tony Sims to Secondsout, talking about Anthony Joshua. “There will be a day when he’s Joshua’s age [34], and someone else will come though, and that’s the way boxing evolves.
“The great champions age, and the young ones come through. It’s a part of history that happens. I believe that’s what’s happened. Joshua has had a great career. What he’s done for our sport is amazing. He brought stadiums, massive stadiums, packing the O2 Arenas out. He brought boxing to the forefront in Britain.
“It’s a short career. One minute, you’re the young guy in the gym, and the next minute, you’re the oldest in the gym, and that’s how quick it goes. That’s what I believed happened. Everyone moves on, and it’s Dubois’ time now. One day, it’ll be another youngster’s time. Maybe Moses Itauma that it’ll come to the table when it’s his time. It’s just age, and that’s what happens.
Joshua has only lost to these three fighters:
– Andy Ruiz
– Oleksandr Usyk x 2
– Daniel Dubois
It’s not like Joshua has lost too many different fighters during his career, and he still has the power, speed, and skills to continue winning for another decade.
What’s Next For Joshua?
“He’s a very, very wealthy man, perhaps one of the wealthiest that have come from these shores. He don’t have to fight, but if he does, he’ll be looking at Tyson Fury,” said Sims.
The promoters are already talking about Joshua fighting Tyson Fury next, and there’s a good possibility that we’ll see that happen. Joshua has chosen not to take a rematch with Daniel Dubois, and he’s not going to risk facing Oleksandr Usyk again after losing to him twice. There aren’t any other compelling fights for him in the division that fans want to see AJ take other than Fury.
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