Zhilei Zhang advises that Anthony Joshua avoid taking a “career-ending rematch” with IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois. The two-time Olympian Zhang says it won’t be a “good thing” for Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) to tangle with Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs) a second time after being destroyed in five rounds last month in their fight on September 21st at Wembley Stadium in London.
Joshua and his team still haven’t said whether they’ll take the immediate rematch with the 27-year-old Dubois or wait to face Tyson Fury in 2025 in Riyadh. Zhang says Joshua must decide what he wants to do, but he thinks a better option would be for him to fight Deontay Wilder.
Joshua Can Afford to Take Risks
AJ is quite rich, with a net income estimated by some to be around $200 million, and that kind of wealth allows him to take bigger risks than a fighter without that safety net would. If Joshua were poor, he likely wouldn’t consider taking the foolhardy move of rematching Dubois immediately if he had the chance to $100 million+ payday fight against Tyson Fury next year. But given his massive King Midas fortune, Joshua can afford gamble without worry. If Dubois destroys AJ, he’ll still have his generational money.
The 38-year-old former WBC heavyweight champion Wilder has lost four out of his last five fights but is still a popular fighter worldwide. A match between Joshua and ‘The Bronze Bomber’ Will would generate much interest from fans, as both guys are big punchers but with weak chins. Someone would get knocked out early.
Fighting Wilder would be a stay-busy fight for Joshua to get him a win to help generate more interest in a clash against Fury in 2025.
“If you’re going to a rematch like that, I don’t think it’s a good thing. I think it’s a career-ending rematch if he takes that route,” said Zhilei Zhang to Secondsout, recommending that Anthony Joshua not take the rematch with IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois.
Another loss for Joshua to Dubois won’t end his career because His Excellency Turki Alalshikh has already said that the fight with Fury can still happen, even if they’re beaten before they meet. With that kind of freedom and the money that AJ has stowed away in the bank, he can take the Dubois rematch.
“Also, I’ve heard people say that he has one loss, and Deontay Wilder has one loss recently. So, I think maybe that’s a fight to put together to think about, but I really don’t know. It’s a question only he [Joshua] can answer based on his own experience,” said Zhang.
It’s doubtful Joshua will want to fight Wilder because it would be a bad look on his part in taking that match. Wilder has lost too many times in the last four years for Joshua to gain anything from fighting him other than money. There’s no prestige in fighting Wilder now.
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