Tyson Fury defended Anthony Joshua after his humbling defeat by fellow British heavyweight Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium.
Joshua was floored four times as the magnificent Dubois launched a relentless assault from the first bell that eventually ended with the clear favourite being counted out following a thrilling exchange of blows.
It was a devastating defeat and the fourth of his career which robbed him of a shot at becoming undisputed world champion.
But despite such a one-sided all-British showdown that lived up to explosive expectations, Fury – who has long been linked with a superfight against Joshua – defended the beaten boxer.
“It’s heavyweight boxing, s*** happens, you get knocked spark out,” Fury told FightHubTV after watching the fight ringside. “It could have been me. In the heavyweight division, it’s what happens.
“What went wrong is what always happens in heavyweight boxing. A good right hand on the end of the chin, and that was it.”
Asked whether Joshua would return to the ring, Fury said: “I don’t know. It’s up to the man and whatever he wants to do. If he has good ambitions to come back again, he can make his own decisions. He’s a big boy.
“I thought it was a 50-50 fight. Dubois is a lot younger. He’s 27-years-old. Joshua is 35, the same age as me [Joshua is 34, Fury is 36]. Age doesn’t wait for anybody. You get hit with those punches [and] you don’t see many heavyweights get hit, get knocked down, get back up, and continue on.”
After the fight, Joshua refused to walk away from the sport.
“You’re probably asking if I still want to consider fighting – of course I want to continue fighting,” he said. “We took a shot at success and we came up short. What does that mean now? That we’re going to run away? We’re going to live to fight another day. And that’s what I am, I’m a warrior.
“Always walk with your head high. We rolled the dice for the third time. There have been 13 world-title fights, not every one of them has been successful but every one has been fun and entertaining. There were a few mistakes in there but that’s the name of the game. Fine margins will cost you at the top level.
“We have to give credit to our opponent, Daniel. When I sign up to fight opponents, I don’t really like them in my head any more. But now that it’s done, I take my hat off to him and say well done.”