Anthony Joshua on Saturday night took a big blow in his last fight with current IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois.
Joshua is one of those not to be separated from his will, and thus he mentioned that in defeat also, he will get back and return to his place among the top heavyweights.
The fight, watched by a complete sell-out crowd at the King Saud University Stadium, Saudi Arabia, was expected to be a crossroads bout for the two fighters.
Two-time unified champion Joshua entered the ring hopefully to re-establish himself after some tough bouts in the last couple of years.
Whereas Dubois was thirsty to make his presence known and prove to the entire world that he belonged with the best in the division.
In the high-octane battle, Joshua demonstrated characteristic power and experience, but Dubois equaled it with his grit and guile in the victory that many in the boxing universe had not seen coming.
The result was one of surprise and admiration for Dubois, who sent notice that he was a heavyweight to reckon with.
After the fight, Joshua came in front of the media showing very good sportsmanship despite his disappointment.
“This is part of the journey. I’ve faced setbacks before, and I’m not one to back down.” Joshua said.
“I want to keep fighting, to learn from this experience, and to come back stronger.” Joshua added.
Joshua’s willing attitude to the challenge speaks volumes about his character.
Through his career thus far, he has always faced many adversities, including defeats and negative criticisms but has always found a way to rise above.
As discussions begin regarding Joshua’s next steps, there are many in the boxing world who are curious about potential matchups.
The names that have been bandied about include Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury, with fans hoping for blockbuster showdowns that may rekindle Joshua’s road back to championship gold.
His promoter, Eddie Hearn, claims Joshua is capable of bouncing back, insisting that the heavyweight division is alive and very competitive.
