Daniel Dubois has opened the door for a rematch with Anthony Joshua after stopping him in five rounds last month. The fight ended Joshua's hopes of becoming a three-time champion.
Dubois, the 27-year-old IBF World Heavyweight Champion, pulled off the win in impressive fashion. It's his latest big victory, following wins over Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic. Now, he's set to defend his title in February against an opponent yet to be named.
After the fight, Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn said 'AJ' wanted another shot right away. But Don Charles, Dubois' trainer, found this surprising. He told Seconds Out:
"They were mentioning a rematch, which was really surprising me. The timing of them vocalising about this rematch, literally the fight had hardly finished and in the ring, 'oh, we want a rematch.' I must be missing something."
Charles just got back from a trip to Ghana. He plans to build a boxing academy there to help young people. Right now, he's waiting to hear about Dubois' next fight. The rematch talk has gone quiet lately, but Charles will call the office on Monday for updates.
Charles gets why Joshua wants another go. It's the fastest way for him to get another title shot. But he thinks Joshua's team will make a smarter choice once they've had time to think.
"We've got the belt, no matter what happens. I don't believe they'll roll the dice this time."
Hearn now says Joshua won't be ready for the February date. He thinks Joshua will come back in summer 2025 instead.
Dubois' win over Joshua was a big shock. It shook up the heavyweight division, where Fury and Usyk also hold belts. The rules say Joshua can't fight for a title right after a loss. So, he'll need to think carefully about his next move.
Dubois' team, including his promoter Frank and his dad, will have a say in what happens next. For now, they're just enjoying the big win and looking forward to the next challenge.
