Derek Chisora predicted that Anthony Joshua would knock out all of his heavyweight rivals, and it dramatically backfired.
Joshua was looking to set up a potential shot at the winner of Oleksandr Usyk’s rematch with Tyson Fury in 2025, but was stunned in a devastating fifth-round stoppage defeat to Daniel Dubois.
Joshua took a battering from Dubois despite being widely backedMark Robinson/Matchroom
It was a damaging blow to Joshua at Wembley Stadium, who had stepped in the ring as favourite, but was handed his fourth career defeat.
Prior to the fight, Joshua’s friend and heavyweight veteran Chisora had predicted clashes with Usyk and Fury on the back of him ‘dealing with’ Dubois.
Chisora had said on talkBOXING before the upset: “I’ll tell you. AJ will knock out Fury in six rounds.
“He’ll stop Usyk in round four. Now he has got the right dancing partner, his trainer.
“He doesn’t stop watching tapes of his two defeats to Usyk, he is in a better space now and will beat Dubois.”
He was then forced to watch that back during an appearance on Jim White and Simon Jordan, where he gave a wry laugh.
Host Jordan then asked Chisora if he was embarrassed by his prediction, to which he responded: “No I’m not.
“For the same reason Arsenal fans and Tottenham fans are holding on hopes of winning the Premier League.
“Exactly and that is my point we are both delusional.”
Chisora was then asked how Joshua would fare if he is thrust into an immediate rematch with ‘Dynamite’.
Chisora reacted to his prediction live on talkSPORT’s White & Jordan
He continued: “Okay listen is there a way back yes?
“Tell me one person who sells out arenas like this boy. It isn’t a different conversation.
“Who brings more money to the sport? Anthony. Can he come back? Yes. He can come back and win.
“Yes Dubois will 100 per cent do a better job, but AJ is not going to freeze this time. I hope not.
“He just froze on the night it happens. 100 per cent Daniel will come in better.
“But we know AJ will come in better than before. Because he has too. He got everything wrong.
“He had his hands down, his stance was wrong. Even his coach telling him to ‘roll the dice’, you can’t roll the dice then.”
Unfortunately for ‘WAR’, Joshua now faces an uphill battle to return to the pinnacle of the division.
AJ could well rematch Dubois immediately, having insisted he will not retire, with Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh interested in staging it in 2025.
A two-fight deal with Tyson Fury cannot be yet ruled out, but that could still depend on the outcome of his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk in December.
