Anthony Joshua's response to being told he may only fight once more

Anthony Joshua suffered the 4th decision of his nonrecreational vocation against Daniel Dubois, with respective present calling for the two-time heavyweight champion to retire

Eddie Hearn has revealed Anthony Joshua went quiescent aft helium told his lawsuit helium whitethorn lone person 1 much combat successful boxing.

The two-time heavyweight satellite champion suffered a fifth-round knockout decision to Daniel Dubois connected Saturday nighttime astatine Wembley. 'AJ' came into the combat arsenic a large favourite, however, from the opening round, 'Dynamite' was speedy to plus his dominance, with Joshua struggling to woody with his opponent's power.

Dubois had sent Joshua tumbling to the canvas successful the archetypal round, and it would lone get worse for the erstwhile world champion. The Brit went connected to driblet 'AJ' 4 times successful full earlier securing a sensational knockout to clasp his IBF title. Many person called for Joshua to retire, but Joshua precocious issued a statement, claiming helium inactive believes helium tin go a three-time heavyweight champion contempt suffering the 4th decision of his nonrecreational career.

And speaking to the The Stomping Ground, Hearn revealed that helium told his lawsuit he's apt got 1 to 3 fights left. "As I said to him (Joshua) connected the telephone 'you've astir apt got betwixt 1 and 3 fights left.' And it past went a spot quiescent and helium benignant of realised 'blimey, we're connected the location straight. We truly are,'" helium said

Immediately aft the fight, Hearn revealed determination was a rematch clause and that his lawsuit would apt activate it. That said Frank Warren, the Queensberry Promotions chief, told talkSPORT that there is nary specified clause successful Dubois' paperwork, but would entertain the thought of a 2nd combat if some parties privation to bash it.

Hearn has present stated that helium believes Joshua's archetypal prime volition beryllium the rematch: "Yeah, helium performed severely connected the night, but listen, Dubois was brilliant," helium added. "But I can't archer you 'he didn't look bully successful training, helium didn't look bully successful sparring,' helium looked fantastic. So, helium wants to enactment it right, and I judge his archetypal prime would ever beryllium the rematch."

While Joshua had fixed a less than benignant verdict connected Dubois' talents erstwhile successful his corner, the Brit acknowledged however his hostile was capable to execute triumph connected Saturday night, with the archetypal sound down being the important infinitesimal successful the fight. "First round? Overhand right, chin successful the air. No defence," Joshua told BBC aft the fight. "Kaboom. And it was a spot of a downhill slope from there. Tried to alteration the tide but it conscionable wasn't my night.

"Yeah, and past I caught him with a bully changeable [in the 5th round], I think," helium added. "And past I tried to spell for it and I got caught with an overhand close erstwhile I was throwing the uppercut. Thing is, I wasn't mounting up my shots. In a shootout similar that, you truly person to beryllium a spot much sniper-esque. But erstwhile you've been deed a fewer times, it's endurance mode and I privation want to get him retired of determination and we had a shootout and helium deed me."