Anthony Joshua expected to activate little-known clause to rematch Daniel Dubois

Anthony Joshua’s career has been thrown a lifeline after Eddie Hearn claimed he expects him to seek a rematch against Daniel Dubois.

AJ suffered arguably the most damaging defeat of his career after he was dismantled inside five rounds by his fellow Brit at Wembley.

Dubois knocked Joshua out in round fiveMark Robinson/Matchroom

The 34-year-old had been hoping to become only the sixth-ever three-time heavyweight champion in the IBF world title fight.

In doing so, the Watford powerhouse would have punched his ticket to face the winner of Tyson Fury‘s rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.

However, all talk of undisputed seemingly vanished after Joshua was dropped four times in front of 96,000 fans at Wembley Stadium.

AJ – once the UK’s most lucrative prizefighter – has had rematch clauses for a second crack at the opponents to have beaten him.

The 2012 Olympic gold medalist quickly avenged his shock upset to Andy Ruiz in June 2019, while he went the distance in successive defeats to pound-for-pound king and former undisputed champion Usyk.

His latest setback came under much different circumstances, having entered as the challenger before being emphatically dispatched.

Dubois would have expected to earn the undisputed roadmap that awaited Joshua, yet Hearn revealed AJ could be in line for redemption.

The Matchroom promoter told DAZN: “I’m sure he’ll [Anthony Joshua] exercise that rematch clause, that’s a given.

“He’ll need a rest but it’s a dangerous fight, this guy’s growing in confidence all the time but he’ll believe he can hurt Dubois, he’ll believe he can beat him but full credit to Daniel Dubois, he deserves all the credit tonight.”

Hearn’s shock reveal is in contrast to the original claims made by rival promoter Frank Warren, who represents Dubois.

AJ’s dreams of being a three-time world champion may not be over yetGETTY

Queensberry promoter Warren stated upon the announcement of Joshua vs Dubois in June that the winner would take on the victor of December’s rematch between Fury and Usyk.

It’s unusual for a challenger to have a rematch clause in their fight contracts, but Joshua was the A-side of the Wembley card, with defending champion ‘DDD’ making his entrance first.

A second fight with Dynamite Dan may be the last thing on AJ’s mind following the nightmare he endured on his homecoming fight.

Joshua, who tasted the canvas in every round bar the second, finally fell for good after 59 seconds of Round 5.

“It was the first round, after that, he was fighting on heart and desire. I’m so proud because he never gave up, his legs were deceiving him and he kept on trying,” added Hearn.

“When you are in there with a massive puncher this is what can happen. He never stopped trying to get up, even when he couldn’t get up at the end.

“Daniel deserves credit, he’s a real-world champion. Congratulations to him.”