Is Anthony Joshua done at world level?

He may still get world level fight but they will have to be careful who they send him in with. A Dubois rematch is the last thing he needs at the moment. That would be a career ender.

 

The reality is he's a SHW with power and a lot of drilling and PEDs and has a chance in every fight because of that. He isn't anywhere near as good as he thinks he is, which is why his little brain was so stunned the night Usyk beat him. People pretend he took a chance on that fight, but he didn't, he was fighting a cruiser and in his mind thought because he was an exceptional HW, he would beat an exceptional cruiser, but of course he is nowhere near Usyk-level of skill and so got beaten twice despite having every single conceivable advantage.

He's the kind of fighter that could beat Dubious in the rematch then get destroyed in a trilogy. He could still beat a lot of fighters but would also take losses. If he hadn't been safely navigated through the years he probably would have racked up a lot of losses, a bit like Chisora has (though maybe not quite that many). But it's the same principle, he'd split results with a lot of the more dangerous fighters if he fought them. That's why he's dodged so many the last few years particularly.

 

Chisoras resume is littered with a veritable who’s who of fighters of this era with one exception Joshua ! I have always said the risk v reward did not seem worth it to Hearn. I’m not a fan of Hearn but he did a marvellous job of promoting Joshua and marketing him as well as even looking out for him with any potential losses by making the opposing fighters agree to a one way immediate rematch or they didn’t get the fight,now for ever known in Boxing as the ReMatchroom Contract .

 

In terms of merit? He should be unless he were to beat other top contenders he just cut in line.

But Usyk has sworn hes only fighting Fury and AJ at HW and Dubois wants to rematch AJ after that legendary battle. So clearly hes getting another world title fight and our opinions do not matter.

 

almost no one in the division has any good wins, including ex champs, fury, wilder, stiverne, and martin.

 

Usyk didn't swear anything, and I wouldn't take it seriously. In thee months he has said...

1. Going to fight for three more years, probably return to cruiser.
2. Everything is on the table...more fights, MMA, Bare knuckle, movies, WWE...
3. Only going to fight Fury and Joshua and retire
4. (when asked if he would fight Dubois) has to spend time with his family and think it over

He doesn't know what he is going to do next, and he certainly has not "sworn" anything.

 

I seem to be one of the few on here that actually likes AJ so I would like him to fight a lower level guy, win by an exciting KO and retire. AJ have made enough money to live a very happy life.

 

I wouldn't say he's done at world level. Usyk, Fury, Dubois, Bakole would all be favourites to beat him.
I still would favour Joshua to beat Parker, Zhang, Kabayel, Hrgovic, Ajagba.
Dubois battered him, he came out firing from the opening bell and the fight was basically over after the first knockdown, Joshua showed amazing heart to get back up. He had Dubois hurt and rushed in and paid the ultimate price. He's not washed up yet, there's still fight in him. Don't be a fool and let your hate for him blind you. By the end of 2025 Anthony Joshua will be a world champion again, mark my words.

 

AJ can't beat anyone who people would care to watch hence rematch is only viable route.

No time to rebuild, what they are going to stick him in with Hurgovic or a more mature Parker? Both would probably chin him.

 

To be fair, Frank Warren has been doing the exact same thing as soon as he got a whiff of the belts.

Joyce was not even a full champion and Zhang had to beat him twice to become WBO (interim/mandatory). Warren then has Zhang under contract.
Now Parker has to beat Zhang twice again for that same non-title, because Warren keeps putting in rematch clauses

It needs the sanctioning bodies to step in to stop this, but they probably like the money too much

 

Boxing fans never cease to amaze me. If AJ won, you would be praising him as one of the best ever. Now all of a sudden hes not world level. Dubois is a top 5 HW right now, its HW boxing, things happen. I personally never considered AJ elite but it seems boxing fans always overreact to everything.

 

Overreacting is part of the human condition as people tend to think more emotionally than rationally. Stock markets are a good example of this. Often the truth is somewhere near the middle. My guess is you are right: AJ is world level but not elite.

 

Was he ever elite? Did he ever stop a prime, elite operator?

I think he's in the same position he's always been; a top 10 guy who could win or lose to most of the top 10 on a given day and is going to be in for it against the top 3.