Although Daniel Dubois became the leading candidate for Anthony Joshua’s next fight, despite five possible opponents, according to promoter Eddie Hearn.
Hearn stressed that in the conversation with TalkSport, “Daniel Dubois is still the leader. Ideally, we’d love to see Joshua face Tyson Fury, but if that happens, Dubois will be the next best option.”
Anthony Joshua, 35, has failed since his failure in November, and the loss has actually hindered his efforts to win the world heavyweight championship for the third time. Initially, Joshua was expected to be at high risk with anger. But those plans cheated when Fury announced his retirement in January.
Hearn hasn’t reversed his decision to return to the ring, revealing that Joshua’s team is actively exploring several alternative matchups. Those options include a rematch with 27-year-old Dubois, who plans to fight Joseph Parker in February but quit due to health issues.
Hearn further elaborates on the available options, referring to other potential opponents: “And Joseph Parker, and I’m sure he’ll offer an exciting game, and we can’t ignore Agit Kabayel and Deontay Wilder. Of course, Turki Alalshikh made it clear that he would love to see Joshua Face Wilder.”
Hearn also noted that the possibility of fighting Martin Bakole was less likely, suggesting that such a showdown could lead to criticism.
Joshua had previously refused to play an immediate rematch with Dubois, citing concerns about injury and not having enough time to prepare. This decision has sparked a variety of opinions in the boxing world.
For example, former British boxer Amir Khan said he believed Joshua had avoided rematches for the moment and made the right choice. “I don’t think he should have been in that rematch. It was the best choice he made,” Khan told Prime Casino.
He explained, “Each fighter has an opponent that presents a unique challenge. For Joshua, I believe Dubois is a bogey – he executed his fist perfectly in the last fight.”
Nevertheless, Khan acknowledged that Joshua might eventually need to face Dubois again, saying, “While I think it’s the right call to take a step back now, it’s still a struggle that needs to happen in the future. Even if he finally decides to fight Dubois again, he still has this experience to learn from. As prize fighters, they will always look for opportunities that may be financially rewarded, especially at this stage of their career that might be easier.”
Meanwhile, rival Joseph Parker, 33, recently won a first-round victory over Martin Bakole, who served as a late substitute after Dubois withdraws. Additionally, Agit Kabayel, 32, beat Zhilei Zhang’s temporary WBC title on the same card.
The former WBC champion Deontay Wilder, now 39, remains a candidate for Joshua’s return to the field, even though he lost back-to-back against Parker and Zhang. Rumors suggest Wilder is making a comeback, but recently linked to a potential battle with former UFC champion Francis Ngannou, leaving fans eager for the latest news on the heavyweight landscape.
