In a surprising turn of events following Anthony Joshua’s shocking KO defeat to Daniel Dubois, UFC star Conor McGregor was visibly angered by discussions around Joshua’s potential retirement.

McGregor, known for his outspoken nature, took issue with the notion that AJ might step away from boxing after such a significant loss.

McGregor, who was attending the fight ringside, was caught on camera reacting angrily after hearing talk about Joshua’s retirement. He was heard saying: “What are you talking about retirement? AJ is a warrior! These setbacks happen to the best, but quitting is not the answer.” He added, “This is combat sports, not a walk in the park. You don’t run when you lose. You stand up, and you come back stronger.”

McGregor’s frustration continued post-fight, as he gave his thoughts in an interview: “Joshua has too much left in him. Everyone’s talking about him retiring, but that’s not the AJ I know. He just needs to get back in the gym and work on the things that went wrong. Quitting isn’t an option.”

After being dropped four times and eventually knocked out by Dubois, rumors quickly spread that Joshua might contemplate retirement. McGregor, however, made it clear that he believes Joshua still has a future in boxing and shouldn’t hang up the gloves just yet.

Fans and pundits had mixed reactions to McGregor’s outburst, with some agreeing that Joshua shouldn’t rush into retirement, while others argued that perhaps it was time for AJ to step back after consecutive setbacks in his career. McGregor’s vocal stance has stirred debate within both the boxing and MMA communities, with many admiring his loyalty and fiery defense of Joshua.

While Joshua’s camp has yet to make any official statements regarding his future, McGregor’s passionate defense of the British heavyweight adds another layer to the drama surrounding the aftermath of this shocking fight.