Anthony Joshua has been suspended by the British Boxing Board of Control until October 19 following his defeat to Daniel Dubois.
But that is no surprise due to the regulations, with the 34-year-old suffering big damage during the bout last month.
The suspension is a standard practice in the sport. Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury, for example, were both banned for a brief period after their own epic showdown back in May.
Boxers, per BBCofC rules, can face suspensions of between 28 and 45 days.
Anthony Joshua has been suspended by the British Boxing Board of Control until October 19 following his defeat to Daniel Dubois
PA
In the case of Joshua, they’ve decided to hand the Briton the minimum 28-day suspension rather than a longer break from the sport.
Per World Boxing News, BBBofC rule 5.8 section C states: “Any contest [wheresoever it takes place] being stopped by the Referee [other than by reason of disqualification], or the retirement of a Boxer, or by a Boxer being counted out in a contest; then the license of such Boxer shall be automatically suspended for a period of 28 or 45 clear days or more at the discretion of the Board’s Senior Medical Officer present at the tournament.
“At the completion of the period of suspension, no Boxer shall return to the ring until he has been certified fit to box by a doctor who may be appointed by the Board or at their discretion by an Area Council.
“Written certificates of fitness to box again must be received at the Registered offices of the Company at least 24 hours prior to the Boxer’s next contest.”
JUST IN: Tyson Fury ‘a shell of his former self’ as crunch Oleksandr Usyk rematch creeps closer
Joshua had gone into his clash with Dubois hoping to become a three-time world champion.
After beating Francis Ngannou so convincingly back in March, he was widely expected to reign supreme.
Yet Dubois, right from the beginning of the fight, was always the man in the ascendancy.
He floored Joshua in the first round, leaving Wembley stunned in the process.
READ MORE: Gary Lineker doesn’t hold back as BBC presenter makes sacking admission – ‘It’s hard to see’
And Dubois eventually got the job done in the fifth after Joshua took one blow too many.
AJ has faced calls to retire from boxing after the catatrophic defeat.
But Eddie Hearn, his promoter, has insisted he’s likely to engage Dubois in a rematch as he looks to set things right.
“Rematch clauses come in many different forms,” he told talkSPORT.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
- Man Utd players ‘think Erik ten Hag is on borrowed time’ with ‘damage done’ after Tottenham defeat
- Michael Schumacher’s former manager makes sad admission about F1 icon after not attending daughter’s wedding
- Boxing fans rage after Mike Tyson and Jake Paul training photos emerge – ‘Dumbest fight of the century’
Anthony Joshua was floored in the fifth round of his fight with Daniel Dubois
PA
“We have a fight with Riyadh Season. One of our options is to fight Daniel Dubois again, and our contract is with them.
“His Excellency [Turki Alalshikh] will deal with Frank and Daniel and make that fight happen. The terms will have to be agreed with them.
“We have already agreed our terms, we have the option to rematch with Dubois.
“Our meetings with His Excellency, he wants the rematch. AJ will always want the rematch.
Anthony Joshua is keen to fight Daniel Dubois for a second time despite his defeat at Wembley last month
PA
“Daniel wants the rematch too it’s the biggest fight for him and they will fancy it.
“It is a case of going away and talking about, do we go straight into the rematch? And when will it be?
“It was a heavy night at the office, we aren’t going back to fight in 10-12 weeks, he needs his rest and time to recover.”