Daniel Dubois keen on Anthony Joshua rematch after ‘stroll in the park’ for IBF world champion at Wembley Stadium
Published 24/09/2024 at 18:59 GMT+1
IBF world heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois is keen on a rematch with Anthony Joshua following his dominant victory in the all-British affair at Wembley Stadium. Dubois knocked out Joshua in the fifth round and would be happy to take on his compatriot again. "If that happens down the line then yeah," Dubois said in an interview on Tuesday. “Go for it, I wanna do it even better next time."
Highlights: Dubois batters Joshua in heavyweight classic at Wembley
Video credit: TNT Sports
Daniel Dubois is keen on reuniting with Anthony Joshua in the ring after his crushing defeat over the former two-time world champion at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.
Dubois stunned the 96,000 fans in attendance when he sent Joshua to the canvas in the opening round and knocked him down three more times in the fight, with the decisive blow coming in the fifth for a sensational victory to retain his IBF world heavyweight title.
The 27-year-old has plenty of options after inflicting a fourth career defeat on Joshua, including a potential match-up with the winner of Tyson Fury’s December bout with Oleksandr Usyk.
However, Dubois would be happy to face Joshua again for a rematch of their own after “slaying the king” in the pair's first meeting.
“If that happens down the line then yeah,” Dubois told talkSPORT. “Go for it, I wanna do it even better next time.
“I know what I need to improve on as well, so as a champion and a fighter I just want to prove people wrong all the time and that’s what we’ve been doing.”
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2024/09/22/4043228-82002208-2560-1440.jpg)
‘Are you not entertained!’ – Dynamite Dubois basks in Wembley glory after stunning AJ
Video credit: TNT Sports
Ahead of the fight, there were doubts that Dubois could rise to the occasion in the all-British affair, which saw Joshua - the challenger - unusually emerge for his ring walk second after world champion Dubois.
“It’s not right is it, really? For the champ to come out first,” Dubois said. “But at the end of the day, I was [in a strong] mindset. I think we had a great ring walk, it was perfect.
“The whole occasion was huge, the opportunity and everything. I was just soaking it up, we lit up the place.
- 'We're going to live to fight another day' - Joshua hints at rematch after Dubois defeat
- Joshua releases message to declare 'it's far from over yet' and 'keep your seatbelts tightened'
- 'I'd be in very, very awkward position' - Warren says he won't push for Dubois-Fury bout
“I wasn’t going to freeze. To me, it was like a stroll in the park walking in there. I had to be in the right mindset to go out there and do what I did.”
Asked whether he would deliver a similar performance, should the pair meet again, Dubois added: “I think so, I think I would. I think I’d be a lot better again.
“It was a great show and it was a great Rocky-type fight, but next time I believe I’ll be more clinical, more sharp and [do] everything better.”
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2024/09/22/4043243-82002513-2560-1440.jpg)
'Best thing I've ever seen' – Reaction to 'outstanding' Dubois win and AJ's 'insane' tactics
Video credit: TNT Sports
Dubois came into the fight in good form after he beat Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic following his controversial defeat to Usyk in August 2023.
After his exceptional Joshua scalp over the weekend, Dubois - who has lost two of his 24 professional fights - believes he can dominate the heavyweight division for years to come.
“I believe I can,” he insisted. “I believe if I make the right adjustments and sharpen up my game more - even more than [Saturday] - I believe I can. This is just the start for me, I need my time.”
---
The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination.
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement