Former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has been issued a 28-day boxing suspension after suffering a knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in London last Saturday. The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC) enforced the ban, which is a standard protocol for fighters who experience TKO or KO losses, in accordance with the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports.
“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.
The 34-year-old Joshua endured a challenging bout, falling to the canvas three times before Dubois, known as ‘DDD,’ delivered a decisive right hand that ended the fight in the fifth round. This defeat marks Joshua’s fourth in his career, adding to his previous losses to Andy Ruiz Jr. in 2019 and Oleksandr Usyk in both 2021 and 2022.
While the suspension may not affect Joshua’s immediate plans—given that no future fights are scheduled—it has ignited discussions regarding his future in boxing. Former boxer Carl Froch voiced his concerns over Joshua’s performance and prospects in 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 stated on his YouTube channel. He further questioned Joshua’s desire to continue boxing, saying, “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.”
In response to the defeat, Joshua reaffirmed his commitment to reclaiming the world title, asserting that he has no plans to retire anytime soon. In a video statement shared on his X page, he expressed gratitude to his fans, stating, “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.
“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.”
