In a recent interview, boxing analyst Johnny Nelson shared his thoughts on the anticipated February 2025 rematch between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois, suggesting that it may not happen as planned due to Joshua’s self-doubt.
“AJ is undeniably a talented fighter and a fantastic motivational speaker. However, it seems he struggles to heed his own advice,” Nelson commented. Reflecting on the potential postponement of the rematch, he pointed to Joshua’s “internal doubts” following his knockout defeat to Dubois last month.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if this fight gets delayed; frankly, I don’t think it will be Joshua’s next outing,” he remarked.
Nelson further emphasized that the issue at hand is more psychological than physical. “He just got knocked out, went through a challenging training camp, and it’s hard to gauge the long-term effects that knockout has had on him,” he explained.
“The doubt is coming from within him. If he truly wants this, he needs to desire it more than anyone else. That’s likely the reason for the delay,” he added, pointing out that while Joshua remains physically fit, the mental toll from the first fight must be addressed. “The only person wrestling with uncertainty here is AJ. He needs to analyze what went wrong in his fight against Dubois.”
“It probably wasn’t just a flawed game plan. If he followed the strategy, then there’s something fundamentally amiss,” Nelson concluded.
