Carl Froch and Anthony Joshua have had a tumultuous relationship, often trading jabs in the media over the years. Recently, Froch has ramped up his criticism, particularly in the lead-up to and aftermath of Joshua’s heavyweight title clash against Daniel Dubois. Froch has been vocal in declaring that the winner of that fight would merely be a “paper champion,” emphasizing that Oleksandr Usyk remains the rightful IBF title holder, having vacated his title for an upcoming rematch with Tyson Fury.
Froch also disapproved of Joshua’s decision to part ways with his longtime trainer Rob McCracken, who played a pivotal role in helping Joshua secure multiple titles. Froch believes that the change might not have been in Joshua’s best interest.
After Joshua’s shocking fifth-round knockout loss to Dubois, Froch felt compelled to reach out to him, putting aside their previous disagreements. In a recent YouTube video, Froch recounted a brief conversation with Joshua, who reassured him that he was “absolutely fine” and in “10/10 health.” However, Froch noted that the words Joshua used—“this sport can be unforgiving”—resonated deeply with him, underscoring the seriousness of the situation.
Despite his concern for Joshua’s well-being, Froch does not support the idea of an immediate rematch. He cautioned that such a move could jeopardize Joshua’s career. “An immediate rematch could spell the end of Anthony Joshua’s career, and I don’t think that should be on the table. He’s in a very tight spot right now,” Froch asserted.
Meanwhile, Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has indicated that Joshua may wait for the outcome of the highly anticipated Fury vs. Usyk fight in December before making any decisions regarding his future. The boxing community is keenly watching to see how Joshua will maneuver through this challenging chapter in his career, as questions about his next steps loom large.