IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has come out in defense of Daniel Dubois, who last Saturday suffered his first career defeat.

The 23-year-old Dubois was stopped in ten rounds by Olympic silver medal winner Joe Joyce.

Dubois' left eye was badly swollen by the tenth - a direct result of Joyce's stiff jabs.

During that round, Dubois took a good shot on the left eye - which prompted him to take a voluntary knee - as the referee counted him out.

In the aftermath, it was revealed that Dubois had suffered a fractured orbital bone and nerve damage around the eye.

But, Dubois has been widely attacked for deciding to end the fight - especially since he was up on the cards at the time of the stoppage.

Joshua, who himself was bombarded with criticism after getting stopped by Andy Ruiz in June of 2019, does not agree with the numerous attacks on Dubois and his character.

“If Daniel needs someone to speak to, he should call me. It is easy for people to criticise from outside the ring — but some people have been out of order. Daniel took a massive risk in taking that fight, as did Joe Joyce. They both knew the dangers and they both put it all on the line," Joshua told The Sun.

“I hear people talking respectfully about tapping out in MMA fights. Then when a boxer stops because his eyeball is about to fall out, they call him a ‘quitter’ — are they serious?

“Daniel’s time will come. I believe I will fight both him and Joyce. Joyce is underrated. He had a top amateur pedigree and it shows. This is a great time for British heavyweight boxing — it has never been stronger — and those two guys are both a huge part of it.”