The knockout loss to Daniel Dubois on Saturday night gave rise to speculation that Anthony Joshua could have to retire, but there are a gazillion reasons why his legendary career won’t end there.In front of 98,000 spectators at Wembley on Saturday, Dubois stunned the boxing world by stopping AJ in the fifth round. Many were forced to speculate whether this may be the last time they saw one of the biggest names in British boxing.

Joshua, 34, was left splayed out on the canvas and filled with uncertainty about his ability to bounce back and carry on in the sport following his defeat in the IBF world heavyweight title match. Nevertheless, Joshua is not going to give up boxing despite the criticism from both fans and pundits, many of whom have stated he is done. The gold medallist from the Olympics declared during the bout that he will continue, and on Monday, he reiterated this position on Instagram.

Although Anthony Joshua’s knockout loss against Daniel Dubois on Saturday night was a difficult blow, his illustrious career won’t end there.

Contractual commitments and AJ’s desire to build on his legacy in the sport all suggest that he will continue in the sport.

In front of 98,000 spectators at Wembley, Dubois stunned AJ by knocking him out in the fifth round. Many were left wondering whether this was the end for one of the biggest names in boxing.

But, several factors point toward AJ continuing his career, from contractual obligations to his personal drive to further his legacy in the sport

Contractual ties with Saudi Arabia

Due to a contractual obligation, Joshua will not be leaving the ring during Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season. Joshua has been leading the charge in the lucrative market for high-profile boxing events that take place during Riyadh Season and on the Saudi sports scene.

Given that Joshua has a contract to fight once again on a Riyadh Season card, it seems likely that AJ will compete in the ring once more while being sponsored by the contentious Saudi Arabian government. The fact that AJ is earning career-high salaries for taking part in Riyadh Season lessens the likelihood that he will leave.

According to AS, Joshua reportedly earned up to £9 million for his bout against Otto Wallin and £38 million for his matchup with Francis Ngannou. Ringside after AJ’s loss to Dubois, Fury made light of the fact that AJ had cost him £150 million, the money they were supposed to get paid for a possible British box office hit. Boxing great Johnny Nelson claimed that money was the only reason AJ would continue to fight in an exclusive piece for Mail Sport, given that the sums at stake have never been higher.

One major reason Joshua will not step away from the ring is his contractual commitment to Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season

Deal with Matchroom and DAZN

Joshua’s business ties impede any plans to retire. He is now two years into a five-year deal with DAZN worth £100 million per year. Additionally, the 34-year-old boxer has a lifetime contract with Matchroom Boxing, Eddie Hearn’s promotional company.

Walking away from boxing at this stage would entail not only retiring from the ring, but also potentially renegotiating or losing lucrative business deals. Joshua is likely to finish his deal with DAZN and maximize his earnings at Matchroom before retiring.

It remains to be seen whether AJ’s deal with Matchroom guarantees Joshua a future in the sport beyond his in-ring career, whether through promotional work or other boxing-related activities.

Joshua’s business arrangements further complicate any thoughts of retirement. He is currently two years into a £100million a year five-year deal

The desire to further cement his legacy

Joshua’s 34-year-old career has been marked by both highs and lows. However, he is definitely motivated by a desire to build on his boxing legacy. One significant method he may accomplish this is to finally face and overcome his heavyweight opponents Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder.

Despite setbacks, particularly the demolition job by Dubois, the public and media continue to demand a Joshua-Fury fight, which would be one of the biggest in British boxing history. Both Joshua and Fury have shown an interest in fighting each other, and Joshua is unlikely to retire without having another go at his domestic opponent.

Joshua has also stated he is still interested in taking on Wilder – despite the fact the Bronze Bomber suffered back-to-back defeats to Joseph Parker and Zhilei ZHang.

At 34 years old, Joshua’s career has been full of both highs and lows. However, he is undoubtedly still driven by his desire to further his legacy in boxing

One of AJ’s most notable nights came when he defeated Wladimir Klitschko in the IBF, WBA and IBO heavyweight world title bout at Wembley in 2017

Redemption and resilience

Throughout his career, Joshua has demonstrated an ability to bounce back from losses. His defeats to Andy Ruiz Jr. and Oleksandr Usyk were followed by successful attempts at rebuilding and improving his performance in the ring.

Joshua’s 34-year-old career has been marked by both highs and lows. However, he is definitely motivated by a desire to build on his boxing legacy. One significant method he may accomplish this is to finally face and overcome his heavyweight opponents Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder.

Despite setbacks, particularly the demolition job by Dubois, the public and media continue to demand a Joshua-Fury fight, which would be one of the biggest in British boxing history. Both Joshua and Fury have shown an interest in fighting each other, and Joshua is unlikely to retire without having another go at his domestic opponent.

Throughout his career, Joshua has demonstrated an ability to bounce back from losses

 His love for boxing

Above all else, Joshua’s love for boxing will likely keep him in the sport. His passion for fighting and his continued dedication to the craft suggest that he won’t walk away just yet.

He has repeatedly expressed his admiration for the sport and the lifestyle that comes with it. Retirement would entail leaving behind something that had been an integral part of his life for more than a decade. Joshua still has unfinished business in the ring, and his passion for the sport will drive him to continue fighting.