Lennox Lewis advises Anthony Joshua to pause boxing

By Tosin Omojola

Former undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis has advised Anthony Joshua to take a break and return refreshed after his recent defeat by IBF world heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois at Wembley in September.

Joshua’s ambition to reclaim a world title and reestablish himself among the division’s elite faced a setback when Dubois floored him multiple times before delivering a decisive right hand in Round 5. The knockout in front of 98,000 fans marked Joshua’s fourth career loss and sent shockwaves through the boxing community, prompting questions about his future in the sport.

Determined to continue, Joshua has expressed intent to face Dubois again, with a rematch tentatively scheduled for February 2024. However, promoter Frank Warren has ruled out an immediate rematch, confirming that Dubois will defend his IBF heavyweight title on February 22 against a yet-to-be-announced opponent.

While Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, is also exploring a potential matchup with Tyson Fury, Lewis recommended that Joshua take a break instead.

“No, I don’t think he should take the rematch. I think he should take a rest for a minute and then come back,” Lewis shared in an interview with Box Nation.

When asked if Joshua’s peak performance might be behind him, ‘The Lion’ looked back to Joshua’s 2017 victory over Wladimir Klitschko. “It seems so. My best of Anthony Joshua was definitely the Klitschko fight. He boxed well, came from off the floor, and showed great heart.”

Turning his attention to Dubois, who was the underdog going into September’s fight, Lewis praised the 27-year-old. “Very impressed with Dubois,” he said. “I was impressed with the right hand. He threw it with such accuracy and composure; he looked prepared for that moment. Dubois has gone through challenges and now seems ready to step up.”

Lewis noted Dubois’s resilience, recalling how he stood his ground against Joshua’s intimidation attempts. “Even when he told Joshua, ‘You don’t intimidate me,’ I think Daniel won that first battle. He’s really grown as a fighter, and I’m thrilled he’s achieved his goal of becoming heavyweight champion. Nobody can dispute that.”

With Dubois gearing up for his February title defense, Joshua is expected to return to the ring next summer. His future opponents will likely depend on the outcome of the anticipated rematch between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.