Anthony Joshua, the former heavyweight champion, is planning his next move after losing to Daniel Dubois last September. The 35-year-old fighter lost his IBF World Championship in that bout, marking a significant setback in his career.
Joshua's team initially aimed for a grudge match with Tyson Fury. But Fury's recent loss to Oleksandr Usyk and subsequent retirement last month have changed the landscape of the heavyweight division. Now, Joshua's camp is eyeing a rematch with Daniel Dubois.
Eddie Hearn, Joshua's promoter, shared some insights about the fighter's current mindset. He said in a recent interview:
"The mojo's back. He's back in camp. He will be watching the Riyadh fight, the world heavyweight championship. Look, in his mind he wants to fight Daniel Dubois. Don't forget, he's a fighter. You'd never get a fighter look at the Dubois rematch and go 'oh I won't be taking that.' They always want to avenge defeat. And it comes with the world heavyweight championship."
However, not everyone thinks a rematch with Dubois is the best move for Joshua. Carl Froch, a former champion himself, shared his thoughts on his podcast, Froch on Fighting:
"AJ isn't gonna want to fight Dubois again. AJ shouldn't want to fight Dubois again. It's a bad fight for him, it really is."
Froch suggested an alternative opponent: "The Parker fight's interesting. If Parker beats Dubois, you'd probably fancy Parker in that one."
Speaking of Dubois, he's set to defend his IBF belt against Joseph Parker later this month. The outcome of this fight will likely influence Joshua's next move.
While Joshua contemplates his future, Oleksandr Usyk, who currently holds most of the heavyweight titles, is looking to fight the winner of Dubois vs Parker. Usyk's goal? To become a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion.
As for other potential opponents for Joshua, Martin Bakole's name has been mentioned, but it's unlikely to happen.
Joshua's next fight will be crucial for his career. At 35, he's at a crossroads, trying to regain his top position in the heavyweight division. The boxing world will be watching closely to see what move he makes next.
