Anthony Joshua’s determination to keep away from a right away rematch with Daniel Dubois just isn’t a shock and he won’t battle once more, says Matthew Macklin.
Dubois retained his IBF world title in devastating trend at Wembley Stadium in September with a shocking fifth-round knockout of Joshua.
Joshua has chosen to not instantly rematch Dubois in February 2025, with the battle date not becoming into his plans for subsequent 12 months as he appears to return from a crushing loss.
Former European middleweight champion Macklin was not stunned by the choice, telling Sky Sports activities: “I simply could not see the speedy rematch taking place.
“I understood the discuss of it as a result of, for Joshua, his satisfaction was hurting, and when your satisfaction is hurting, you simply wish to get again in there to rectify the state of affairs.
“However I all the time thought as soon as the mud had settled, it was a battle that would not occur. The primary battle could not have been extra conclusive, it was a defeat and a nasty knockout.
“Given the place Joshua is in his profession, a loss like that can take loads to come back again from. At 34 years of age, you do not get higher, it goes downhill from right here.
“Joshua bounced into the primary Dubois battle on the again of two wins along with his new coach, his confidence could not have been increased, however now going right into a rematch he can have all types of doubts and insecurities.”
‘AJ retirement would not shock me’
Two-time world champion Joshua has had an illustrious profession within the ring however faces a defining interval as he plots his subsequent transfer.
Joshua might be contemplating his future within the sport, says Macklin
Who Joshua decides to battle subsequent may both reignite his quest to be topped three-time world champion or successfully finish his decade of success on the prime of the heavyweight division.
“Personally, I believe that could possibly be that for Joshua anyway,” Sky Sports activities skilled Macklin added.
“When the mud settles, he has time to replicate and thinks about his subsequent transfer, it would not shock me in any respect if AJ does not field once more and retires. And what a profession he would have had.
“The Tyson Fury battle may nonetheless occur if he had been to beat Oleksandr Usyk. It will nonetheless be an enormous battle, however I simply do not know what AJ’s urge for food for boxing is at this level, it is arduous to say.”
‘Parker 2.0 higher than world champion model’
With Joshua stepping apart, WBO interim champion Joseph Parker has emerged because the frontrunner to tackle Dubois in his subsequent IBF defence.
The New Zealander has loved a renaissance since his stoppage loss to Joe Joyce in September 2022, propelling himself again into world title rivalry with spectacular wins over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang.
“It will be a superb match-up,” Macklin continued. “Parker is a kind of fighters who has stayed energetic, taken one dangerous battle after one other. After his win in opposition to Wilder after which Zhang, he is within the type of his profession.
“I believe this Joseph Parker is healthier than the world champion that AJ beat in 2017.
“He was world champion and undefeated then, however the Joseph Parker of at this time is extra skilled, he is seasoned, he has an important relationship along with his new coach Andy Lee. They’re on a roll collectively and that is the most effective Joseph Parker there has ever been.
“It will likely be a really robust battle for Dubois, however Dubois is within the type of his profession too.
“In the event you have a look at his final three wins – Filip Hrgovic, Jarrell Miller and AJ – he is within the peak of his profession, his confidence and kind has by no means been higher. It is a actually fascinating battle in opposition to Parker.”
Watch Chris Billam-Smith tackle Gilberto Ramirez in a unification of the WBO and WBA cruiserweight world championships on Saturday, dwell on Sky Sports activities Combine from 5pm.
