Anthony Joshua will face Daniel Dubois or Tyson Fury next, insists Eddie Hearn - 'That's it, no other interest'
By Flo Clifford
Published 24/10/2024 at 14:49 GMT+1
Anthony Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn has insisted the Brit's next fight will be against Daniel Dubois - in a rematch of their September fight - or Tyson Fury. Joshua was decisively defeated by Dubois at Wembley Stadium last month, but could exercise a rematch clause to get on the February card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Hearn insisted Joshua is "actually in a really good position" despite the loss.
Usyk asks Fury to sign photo from first fight
Video credit: TNT Sports
Anthony Joshua's next fight will be an all-British blockbuster against either Daniel Dubois or Tyson Fury, promoter Eddie Hearn has said.
Joshua suffered a chastening defeat by IBF heavyweight world champion Dubois in September.
Dubois' victory was only a fourth career defeat for Joshua and a rematch has already been tentatively slated for February 22 in Saudi Arabia, although Hearn cautioned that the 35-year-old may not be ready in time.
"It's weird saying it after a knockout defeat, but AJ is actually in a really good position," Hearn told BBC Sport.
"We're going to fight Dubois or Fury next. That's it. No other interest or warm-up."
Dubois emphatically knocked out Joshua in front of a record British crowd of 96,000 at Wembley Stadium, with their IBF title fight stopped in the fifth round.
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Hearn said after the fight that Joshua had a rematch clause, but while Dubois is likely to fight on the February card, it may come too early for the two-time unified world heavyweight champion.
"AJ desperately wants revenge but the only issue is timing," Hearn said. "For the rematch to happen in February, training camp will have to start in a couple of weeks.
"There are always niggles and he had a few so physically, it's just a case of whether AJ is ready to do that."
Another option would be to fight Fury in another long-anticipated all-British clash. Fury will face unified champion Oleksandr Usyk on December 21 in Riyadh, streamed live on TNT Box Office, in a rematch of their bout in May which the Ukrainian won on split decision.
"It would be frustrating if we made the Dubois rematch and Fury won," Hearn added. "Then we're sitting there going 'hang on a minute, we're fighting Dubois, but we could have fought Fury in May for the biggest fight in boxing.'
"Win or lose, we can fight Fury next summer. But if he wins, AJ fights him for the world title."
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