By Anthony Joshua will not seek an immediate rematch against Daniel Dubois following his knockout loss at Wembley Stadium in September. Instead, Dubois is expected to defend his IBF world heavyweight title against former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker in February.
Boxing analyst and former European middleweight champion Matthew Macklin wasn’t surprised by Joshua’s decision to step back from an immediate rematch. He suggested that the outcome of their first bout, a decisive fifth-round knockout by Dubois, would make a rematch challenging for Joshua to pursue. “Given where Joshua is in his career, it would take a lot to come back from a loss like that, especially at 34,” Macklin remarked. “He had momentum going into the first fight, but now he’ll have lingering doubts and insecurities.”
The move brings the New Zealander Parker to the forefront as Dubois’ next opponent. Parker has recently rejuvenated his career, rebounding from his 2022 loss to Joe Joyce with strong performances, including wins over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang. “This version of Parker is better than the one who fought Joshua in 2017,” Macklin commented. “He’s more seasoned and has flourished under trainer Andy Lee.”
In the broader heavyweight picture, the decision puts Joshua at a crossroads in his career, with questions about whether he’ll pursue another shot at the title or consider retirement after an impressive career. Macklin suggested that a possible future bout with Tyson Fury could still happen if Fury were to defeat Oleksandr Usyk, but Joshua’s “appetite for boxing” remains uncertain.
Meanwhile, Dubois’ next challenge against Parker promises to be a thrilling matchup between two fighters at their peak. Boxing fans can also look forward to a cruiserweight showdown between Chris Billam-Smith and Gilberto Ramirez on Saturday.
