Anthony Joshua forced into U-turn after Daniel Dubois defeat at Wembley

Joshua had gone into his showdown with Dubois on Saturday in the form of his life.

Many had been quick to discard the Briton when he lost to Usyk for a second time in 2022, having crashed to defeat against the same opponent 12 months previously.

But Joshua, to his credit, rebuilt himself.

He first beat Jermaine Franklin Jr in May last year, with AJ reigning supreme via unanimous decision.

Joshua then followed that up with an even better performance against Otto Wallin, with the Briton forcing his opponent's corner to throw in the towel after just five rounds.

Robert Helenius was no match for Joshua when they met in August 2023. AJ clinced the win via a thunderous knockout in the seventh round at the 02 Arena.

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Then, in March, Joshua produced a remarkable show of power as he crushed Francis Ngannou in just two rounds.

Ngannou had been tipped to cause AJ some issues, particularly given how he wobbled Tyson Fury in their bout back in October last year.

Yet Ngannou never stood a chance, with Joshua making the 38-year-old look like the boxing rookie he is on that occasion.

Saturday night was meant to be his crowning moment, the moment where he finally became a three-time world champion.

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However, Joshua was strangely flat and subdued with Dubois flying out of the blocks.

The 27-year-old was fully deserving of his victory, which could easily have come a lot sooner after he floored Joshua in the first, second and fourth rounds of the fight.

In the end, he got the job done in the fifth.

Joshua, if he'd won, was eyeing a bout against Fury. The Sun reported before the clash that a deal was on the verge of finally being agreed after years of intense speculation.

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It was also possible that he'd try and negotiate a third fight with Usyk, too.

Instead, however, it's a rematch with Dubois that will likely be his next showdown.

Eddie Hearn confirmed the news, with the boxing promoter saying: "I'm sure he'll [Anthony Joshua] exercise that rematch clause, that's a given.

"He'll need a rest but it's a dangerous fight, this guy's growing in confidence all the time but he'll believe he can hurt Dubois, he'll believe he can beat him but full credit to Daniel Dubois, he deserves all the credit tonight."

It is not what Joshua wanted, however.

And hopes of a bout with Fury or Usyk will certainly fade even more if he fails to come out on top a second time around.