Anthony Joshua’s Trainer Admits “Something Went Wrong” Before AJ’s Defeat To Dubois

Ben Davison, the trainer of Nigerian-born British heavyweight boxer, Anthony Joshua, has admitted that something went wrong before the boxer took on Daniel Dubois in September 2024.

Recall that Anthony Joshua faced his fourth and most challenging professional loss in September, suffering a defeat at the hands of Dubois.

This fight represented a significant opportunity for the former unified heavyweight champion, as he aimed to reclaim his status and become a three-time world champion.

However, the bout did not unfold as anticipated; it ended in a disheartening fashion for Joshua, who was knocked down twice in the early rounds. Ultimately, the fight ended in the fifth round when the referee stopped the contest, marking a devastating setback in Joshua’s career.

Daniel Dubois, the reigning IBF world champion, delivered a performance that many are calling the best of his career.

The young British puncher has experienced a rollercoaster journey in the boxing world, with notable ups and downs. Despite past defeats to formidable opponents like Joe Joyce and Oleksandr Usyk, he has also secured impressive victories against fighters such as Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic.

In the wake of Joshua’s defeat, his trainer, Ben Davison, told talkSPORT Boxing, what led to AJ’s defeat to Dubois.

Davison acknowledged that there were underlying issues leading up to the match that, in retrospect, could have been addressed more effectively.

He said, “We know that amongst ourselves we know where some things went wrong. It’s important for us that we don’t look like we are making excuses, but some things went wrong that we could have done a better job within and around, and closer to, the fight. You can’t point the blame, we’ve got to own it. We’ve got to wear it. And that’s what we’ve done.”

While there had been speculation about Joshua seeking an immediate rematch with Dubois, he has opted to take some time off from the ring. This decision will allow him to recover from minor injuries sustained during the fight.

Meanwhile, Dubois is prepared to defend his title against former champion Joseph Parker on February 22nd in Saudi Arabia.

This highly anticipated matchup will headline a boxing card that also features a rematch between the undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.