Anthony Joshua's next fight has already been decided after brutal KO defeat to Daniel Dubois

Anthony Joshua's next boxing fight was already been organised just minutes after losing to IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois on Saturday night.

Joshua challenged IBF heavyweight champion Dubois at Wembley Arena on Saturday night as he hoped to become only the fourth man ever to be champion of the weight class on three different occasions.

However, it was Dubois who had his hand raised at the end of the fight, as he knocked the former champion out in the fifth round to retain his heavyweight title.

Now that the fight is over, boxing fans have immediately started to question what was next for 34-year-old Joshua, and it appears that the answer to this may have already been decided.

Had Joshua been victorious on Saturday night, a mouth-watering clash with the winner of Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury, who face each other for the second time in December, would have almost certainly been next.

Instead, it appears that the Brit will exercise a rematch clause included in his contract for the bout with Dubois and face the 27-year-old once again sometime next year.

"I think he [Joshua] will exercise that rematch clause, I think that's a given," said Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn post-fight.

"He'll need a rest and it's a dangerous fight, this guy is growing in confidence all the time.

"He'll believe he can hurt Dubois, he'll believe he can beat him. But full credit to Daniel Dubois, he deserves all the credit, it was a great performance.

"I think that 2025 is going to be an interesting year for Anthony Joshua, one way or another, but he will definitely be back and whether it's against Daniel Dubois, Tyson Fury, whoever, you're going to be entertained."

Daniel Dubois defeated Anthony Joshua in the fifth round via knockout. (Image: Getty)

Joshua went into the fight against Dubois on Saturday night as the favourite due to his wealth of experience fighting at the top of the sport.

Despite this, the former champion struggled to establish himself in the fight, leading to Dubois knocking him down late in the first round.

Dubois went on the knock Joshua down another two times before ultimately finishing the fight via knockout in the fifth round after landing a right hand that Joshua was unable to get up from.