Boxing pundit Carl Froch has advised Anthony Joshua to avoid a rematch with Daniel Dubois, fearing another devastating defeat.
Froch’s comments come after Dubois brutally knocked out Joshua in the fifth round of their heavyweight world title clash at Wembley last September.
Joshua notably turned down the opportunity to immediately avenge that loss and recently underwent elbow surgery, delaying his return to the gym.
Meanwhile, Dubois is set to make his first appearance since last autumn when he faces Oleksandr Usyk in a highly anticipated rematch at the national stadium next month, aiming to avenge his stoppage defeat by the Ukrainian two years ago.
While Joshua is targeting a return to the ring later this year, potentially against Tyson Fury if the latter reverses his retirement decision, Froch believes a second encounter with Dubois would be ill-advised.
“Another fight with Daniel Dubois? Forget it. Daniel Dubois will flatten him again,” Froch declared on his YouTube channel. “He can’t beat Daniel Dubois; he will be frightened to death of getting hit on the chin, and when he does, he will be rendered unconscious again.”
Joshua has remained calm about his next opponent as Fury continues to insist on his retirement, having hung up his gloves in January after two consecutive defeats to Usyk. Other potential opponents for Joshua include a rematch with Dillian Whyte or a possible August clash with rising star Moses Itauma.
Adding to the speculation surrounding Joshua’s future, his promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed that the Olympic champion could retire as early as next year. Hearn believes that a confrontation with long-term rival Tyson Fury is the final frontier for Joshua before he hangs up his gloves
