Carl Froch and Anthony Joshua have a rather fractious relationship.
Both men were once trained by Rob McCracken but, when Joshua left McCracken in the wake of his first defeat to Oleksandr Usyk, things seemed to turn sour.
Froch responded with a series of messages back and forth in which he called Joshua a plastic gangster and later said had he beaten Daniel Dubois for the IBF world title he would have been only a paper champion.
As it transpired, Joshua was stopped inside five rounds when he fought Dubois in September and missed out on his chance to become a three-time world heavyweight champion.
‘AJ’ has said that he is keen to go straight into a rematch with Dubois, and he has previously done the same after losing by knockout to Andy Ruiz Jr back in June 2019, when just six months later he won the rematch wide on points. The plan didn’t work out when he fought Oleksandr Usyk back-to-back, losing on both occasions.
Speaking on his own YouTube channel, Froch has suggested he swerves the rematch.
“I honestly don’t think he should be jumping straight back in with an immediate rematch with Daniel Dubious. If the fight had gone differently and he got caught cold with a one-shot knockout then there is an argument for an immediate rematch.
“But Joshua should get in the gym, do a bit of light sparring, and look at what happens with Fury and Usyk in the rematch. That gives him some time out, lets him gather his thoughts and see how much he wants this game.”
He then suggests a great way to end his career would be with a victory over his old rival Fury.
“If Fury gets beat by Usyk, and he’s the underdog, he’s saying the right things and I think Fury’s got a chance in regaining the belts, but when he knows what’s happened Joshua can have a look.
“If Fury loses again, there will be a big fight there, Anthony Joshua versus Tyson Fury. It would fill Wembley Stadium. massive payday before he finishes his career, and if he beats Fury he can exit the game with his chin held high.”
Although Joshua is keen on the rematch, fellow heavyweights like Zhilei Zhang believe it could instead be time for him to retire.
