Anthony Joshua ought to nonetheless battle on regardless of his devastating defeat to Daniel Dubois, says heavyweight rival Dillian Whyte.
Whyte has been a fierce, outspoken opponent of Joshua’s, each earlier than and after their 2015 British title battle.
However he’s backing Joshua to battle on.
“He’s still got a lot left in the tank and he’s still a big draw. And as you can see in the fight, he’s still a big puncher. He had Dubois going before Dubois landed the finishing blow,” Whyte informed Sky Sports activities Information.
“It’s hard to say, he’s young, he’s strong, he looks in amazing shape. He’s still got a lot of fight left in him.”
IBF heavyweight world champion Dubois knocked out Joshua in spectacular type within the fifth spherical at Wembley Stadium in September.
Dubois will make the subsequent defence of his title in February and whereas a possible rematch with Joshua had been mooted, AJ will not be able to field so quickly within the new 12 months.
Whyte although does not consider that defeat ought to spell the tip of Joshua’s combating profession.
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Tyson Fury tells Sky Information’ Jacquie Beltrao {that a} battle between Anthony Joshua and himself can be an attention-grabbing one
“People put too much emphasis on a defeat in heavyweight boxing,” Whyte mentioned. “That’s why a lot of fights don’t happen.
“They do not get made as a result of individuals put loads of emphasis on win, lose and draw as a substitute of having fun with the truth that two prime guys are combating one another now, which wasn’t occurring a couple of years in the past.”
Fury the ‘obvious’ next fight for AJ
Trainer Tony Sims, who worked with Joshua in the early part of the Olympic gold medallist’s professional career, believes waiting to fight Tyson Fury is the “apparent” subsequent transfer for AJ, no matter what occurs in Fury’s December 21 rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.
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Matthew Macklin weighs up why it could possibly be time for Anthony Joshua to retire from skilled boxing saying ‘what’s he acquired to realize, when he has a lot to lose?’
“I think the younger ones now, leave them alone,” Sims informed Sky Sports activities. “Boxing evolves like anything in life.
“The younger ones come via. For those who have a look at each heavyweight champion, like Ali, Larry Holmes, the younger guys at all times come via to take over from the previous weapons. Regardless of how good you might be. The youth at all times overcomes expertise finally.
“Joshua’s 34 now going on 35, he’s been a great champion. You’ve got a young fighter who’s hungry in Daniel Dubois and he’s took that title. I think the obvious fight is Tyson Fury and Joshua still, whether Tyson wins or loses against [Oleksandr] Usyk.
“I believe that is the plain battle for Joshua subsequent. I believe that is nonetheless an enormous battle. Each of them are in a while in age and I believe that is an incredible battle for each of them.”
