BOB ARUM has brutally told Anthony Joshua his boxing career is all-but “OVER” after defeat to Daniel Dubois.
AJ hit the canvas FOUR times on the way to his fifth-round knockout loss against Dubois in front of a British-record 98,000 fans.
Joshua has talked down retirement in the aftermath and is already being lined up for a rematch.
But Hall of Famer Arum – a promoter across seven decades – sees no way back for AJ other than a fight with Deontay Wilder.
He told FightHub: “No, you don’t have an off night getting the s*** kicked out of you that way.
“I just think AJ has been through a lot of wars. And I think it’s over for him as well as over for Wilder.
“Maybe they can fight each other, that’d be good.”
Wilder is coming off two defeats against Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang.
The American, 38, has not officially hung up the gloves and his coach Malik Scott spoke out to talk down retirement.
Joshua, 34, meanwhile met with promoter Eddie Hearn and Saudi boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh just days after his loss to Dubois.
And Hearn revealed all parties are on board for a potential rematch – targeted for February.
He said talkSPORT: “Rematch clauses come in many different forms.
“We have a fight with Riyadh Season. One of our options is to fight Daniel Dubois again, and our contract is with them.
“His Excellency [Turki Alalshikh] will deal with Frank and Daniel and make that fight happen. The terms will have to be agreed with them.
“We have already agreed our terms, we have the option to rematch with Dubois.
