Anthony Joshua insists he has no plans to retire from boxing after his shock defeat to Daniel Dubois.
Joshua was demolished in five rounds by Dubois in front of 96,000 fans at Wembley on Saturday evening.
Dubois delivered a dominant display over Joshua, flooring the 34-year-old in all but one of the five rounds before ended the contest with a crashing counter right hand.
In the immediate aftermath of the fourth defeat of his professional career, Joshua has faced calls to retire from the sport.
But the two-time heavyweight world champion is adamant that he will fight again next year.
‘You’re probably asking if I still want to continue fighting – of course I want to continue fighting,’ Joshua said at his post-fight press conference.
‘That’s what I said, we took a shot at success and we came up short. What does that mean now – are we going to run away or are we going to live to fight another day?
‘That’s what I am, I am a warrior, and also before I finish, we have to give credit to our opponent, Daniel.
‘Even though when I sign up to fight opponents I don’t really like them in my head any more, but now it’s done, I take my hat off to him and say well done to him and his team.
‘And also thank you to my team as well for the way they prepared me, there were a few mistakes in there but that’s the name of the game, fine margins will cost you at the top level.’
Asked if there is any way back for Joshua, Ricky Hatton, a former two-weight world champion, said at ringside: ‘I don’t know, I think he’ll stay with his camp and have a talk and everything like that. Maybe not.
‘Personally, as a friend, I would like to see him retire.
‘He’s been a two-time world champion, he’s had a fantastic night here, 96,000 against a fellow Brit, I don’t want to see him get hurt again.’
Prince Naseem Hamed, who was also at Wembley, also urged Joshua to step away from the sport.
‘I think Anthony should just put his gloves up gracefully and say, ‘listen, it’s been great, I’ve tried to become [world champion] three times, but it didn’t happen’,’ he said.
‘Let the man just rest and flex because that’s it, done.’
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