Anthony Joshua's next move remains uncertain after his surprising loss to Daniel Dubois in August. The former two-time heavyweight champion got knocked out in the fifth round, losing his shot at the IBF World Title.
Initially, there were talks of a quick rematch between Joshua and Dubois. But that idea has been scrapped. Frank Warren, Dubois' promoter, confirmed the news recently.
"AJ, I don't think is gonna take… Well, the fight's not going to happen. So we're looking at other opponents and we'll be announcing that in due course. He'll be fighting in February in a big, big fight because he'll be defending his title," Warren said.
The decision comes as no surprise. Joshua faced four knockdowns in his fight with Dubois, making a quick turnaround seem risky. Now, both fighters are looking for new opponents.
Dubois plans to defend his newly won title in February. Warren mentioned Joseph Parker as a possible contender but said they're considering several options.
"I like [the Joseph Parker] fight but there are a few others there as well. We're going to sit down, because obviously everyone was focusing on the rematch, and we know where we are now so we'll be looking and seeing what's available. We'll sit down as a team and have got to pick the right opponent," Warren explained.
One name that came up in discussions is Fabio Wardley, the current British Heavyweight Champion. Wardley's impressive record of 18-0 with 17 KOs has put him in the conversation. He recently defended his title with a first-round knockout of Frazer Clarke, following their previous twelve-round draw.
Warren, however, thinks a fight between Dubois and Wardley might be premature.
"Fabio asked for it, but I think it's too early and I think it's a fight certainly that we can build up and if we can do it, it could be a massive stadium fight," Warren said.
Interestingly, Warren suggested Wardley as a potential opponent for Joshua instead.
"If AJ wants a fight, maybe fight Fabio," Warren proposed.
This suggestion adds another layer to the evolving heavyweight landscape. Wardley has expressed his desire to move up to world level, possibly vacating his British title in the process.
As for Joshua, his path forward remains unclear. The loss to Dubois was a significant setback, and he'll need to choose his next opponent carefully to rebuild his standing in the division.
With Dubois set to defend his title in February and Joshua still figuring out his next move, the heavyweight division continues to be full of potential matchups and storylines. Fight fans will be watching closely to see how these stories unfold in the coming months.
