Former two-time heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, has been placed on a 28-day suspension following his knockout defeat by Daniel Dubois at London’s Wembley Stadium last Saturday.
The British Boxing Board of Control issued the ban, a standard procedure for fighters who suffer technical knockout (TKO) or knockout (KO) losses, as per the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports.
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“AJ has been banned for just under a month by the British Boxing Board of Control. According to the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports, it is not unusual for a fighter to receive a medical suspension after suffering a TKO or KO loss,” Mirror UK reported on Sunday.
Joshua, 34, endured a tough night in the ring, hitting the canvas three times before Dubois, also known as ‘DDD,’ delivered the decisive blow with a powerful right hand in the fifth round. This marked Joshua’s fourth career loss, adding to defeats by Andy Ruiz Jr. in 2019 and Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and 2022.
Although the suspension is unlikely to interfere with his plans, as no future fights have been scheduled, it has sparked conversations about the boxer’s future. Former boxer Carl Froch voiced concerns about Joshua’s performance and commitment to the sport.
“Anthony Joshua got absolutely battered from pillar to post. He lacked ambition, he lacked self-belief and confidence. His powers of recovery are terrible; he looked exhausted,” Froch said on his YouTube channel.
Froch went on to question Joshua’s passion for boxing, stating, “I question Anthony Joshua’s desire to be in that boxing ring anymore. I don’t think AJ wants it anymore, he shouldn’t be boxing. That performance was weak.”
Despite the defeat and suspension, Joshua remains determined to reclaim his world title. In a video posted on his X page, he expressed gratitude to his supporters and emphasized his commitment to continuing his boxing career.
“We came up short, but look, we have to focus on all the positives. That’s the mindset, and that’s the perspective we need to adopt — a positive one,” Joshua said. “Look at what we’ve achieved in the space of 11 years; it’s phenomenal, and I want to thank every single one of you who has been riding with me. What a rollercoaster journey, but you know what? The problem is that it’s far from over yet.”
