Anthony Joshua has vowed to make a comeback following a fourth career defeat and more bizarre behavior in the aftermath.
AJ hit the canvas four times against Daniel Dubois and was eventually knocked out cold before making a startling in-ring threat post-fight.
“Credit to him and his team. We rolled the dice of success, but we came up short,” said Joshua. “You know I’m ready to kick off in the ring, but I’m going to keep my cool, keep very professional, and give respect to my opponent.
“I’m always saying to myself, I’m a fighter for life. We keep rolling the dice. I had a sharp opponent, a fast opponent, and a lot of mistakes from my end, but that’s the game.”
After reflecting on his loss for 48 hours, Joshua released a statement vowing to make a comeback. However, he did not apologize for his outburst.
“We came up short, but we’ve got to look at all the positives,” said the two-time heavyweight champion. “That’s the mindset. That’s the perspective we’ve got to have – a positive one, always.
“Look at what we’ve achieved in the last 11 years. It’s phenomenal. I want to thank every single one of you who has been riding with me.”
He added, “What a rollercoaster journey, but you know what the problem is? It’s far from over yet. We’ve done it once, we’ve done it twice, and doing it a third time hasn’t been easy, but it’s something I can achieve.
“It’s about making the right steps forward, working hard and improving. It’s got to come from the heart more than anything. It can’t come from any external voices or influences; it’s got to come from the heart.
“It’s only been a day, but when I sit back and think, I know I’ve got a lot of heart. Thanks for your support, thanks for being on this rollercoaster journey with me.
“Keep your seatbelt tight because deep, deep, deep down in here, I know I’ve got a lot more to bring to the game, and long may it continue.”
Before his threat to ‘kick-off’ during his interview, Joshua pulled tongues at Dubois throughout his beating. He also branded his opponent ‘sh**’ – which doesn’t align with the ‘respect’ angle the Londoner mentioned afterward.
It seems Joshua will again get let off without any repercussion, as his promoter, Eddie Hearn, mentioned nothing about any of those incidents or behavior when speaking immediately after.
“It was the first round; after that, he was fighting on heart and desire. I’m so proud because he never gave up; his legs were deceiving him, and he kept on trying.
“When you are in there with a massive puncher, this is what can happen. He never stopped trying to get up, even when he couldn’t get up. Daniel deserves credit. He’s a real world champion. Congratulations to him,” stated Hearn.
Read all articles and exclusive interviews by Phil Jay. Learn more about the author, experienced boxing writer, and World Boxing News Editor since 2010. Follow on Twitter @PhilJWBN.
