Former two-time heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua is facing calls to retire from boxing after being knocked out by fellow Brit, Daniel Dubois, on Saturday. The plea for Joshua to step away from the sport came from former champion Prince Naseem Hamed, who believes it’s time for the 34-year-old to bow out gracefully after his latest defeat.
Joshua’s knockout at Wembley, which marked his fourth professional loss, came in the fifth round when Dubois landed a powerful right hand. The defeat has raised questions about Joshua’s future, but Hamed is clear in his advice: retire while still in good health.
Speaking to iFL TV, Hamed said, “Whether he can or he can’t, I’d prefer him not to. He’s had his day in the sun like we all have. He’s done great; he won amazing world titles; he’s defended them; he’s earned his dough. Listen, he should bow out gracefully, and that’s it, done.”
Hamed, who retired from boxing at the age of 28 with an impressive record of 36 wins and only one loss, expressed his concern about Joshua continuing in such a dangerous sport after suffering heavy blows in recent fights.
Joshua, however, does not seem ready to walk away. After the fight, he responded to retirement talks, stating his desire to keep fighting.
“I want to continue fighting. We took a shot, and we came up short. What are we going to do—walk away? We’re going to live another day,” Joshua said defiantly.
Despite this, Joshua’s defeat to Dubois has sparked broader discussions about his future. It follows a tough few years in which Joshua lost his unified world titles to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and has struggled to regain his position at the top of the heavyweight division.
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has already confirmed they will pursue a rematch with Dubois, exercising the rematch clause in their contract. Hearn remains confident in Joshua’s ability to return to form. He hinted at a potential major fight for Joshua in Saudi Arabia under the Riyadh Season banner, signaling that Joshua’s team believes he can still compete at the top level.
“Joshua has the heart of a fighter, and we’re not done yet. We’re planning to exercise the rematch clause, and we’ll see Anthony back in the ring soon,” Hearn said in a post-fight interview.
Meanwhile, Dubois has been celebrated for what many are calling a career-defining performance. The 25-year-old has firmly established himself as one of the top contenders in the heavyweight division following his dominant win over Joshua. His stock has risen sharply, and his victory at Wembley is seen as a stepping stone to even bigger fights in the near future.