Dubois frontrunner for Joshua return – Hearn
Daniel Dubois remains the frontrunner for Anthony Joshua’s next fight despite a list of five potential opponents being considered for the British-Nigerian heavyweight, according to promoter Eddie Hearn.
“Daniel Dubois still (is the frontrunner). In an ideal world, he will fight Fury, if not Dubois,” Hearn told talkSPORT as he outlined the options for Joshua’s return to the ring.
Joshua, 35, has been inactive since his defeat to Dubois in November, which effectively halted his bid to become a three-time world heavyweight champion. He initially appeared set for a blockbuster clash with Tyson Fury before the Gypsy King announced his retirement in January.
With Fury yet to make a U-turn over his boxing career, Hearn disclosed that Joshua’s team is exploring multiple alternatives, including a potential rematch with Dubois, 27, who was scheduled to face Joseph Parker in February before withdrawing due to illness.
“There is also Joseph Parker, who I think would be a great fight, there is Agit Kabayel and Deontay Wilder, obviously (Turki Alalshikh) has stated he would love to see that fight,” Hearn continued.
“I guess the (Martin) Bakole fight is still there, but he would probably get criticised if he fought Bakole, so less likely.”
Joshua had previously declined an immediate rematch with Dubois, with his team citing injuries and insufficient preparation time as key factors in their decision. This decision has drawn mixed reactions from boxing circles, with former British boxer Amir Khan believing it was the right call.
“I don’t think he should have taken that re-match. It’s the best choice he’s made,” Khan recently told Prime Casino.
“You always have that one opponent who is always going to be the bogeyman, who is always going to beat the style that AJ has, and I think that is Dubois. He was punch perfect when I saw that fight,” Khan added.
However, Khan also suggested that Joshua would eventually need to confront Dubois again saying, “I think he made the right choice by not taking it now but in the future it’s still a fight. And even if he never fights him again, he tried, it happened, we’re all prize fighters and at this time he can make money elsewhere with an easier opponent,” he said.
Meanwhile, potential opponent Parker, 33, recently defeated late replacement Bakole in one round after Dubois pulled out, while Kabayel, 32, beat Zhilei Zhang on the same night to claim the WBC interim title.
Former WBC champion Wilder, 39, is also in the mix despite coming off consecutive losses to Parker and Zhang. The American is rumoured to be plotting a comeback but has most recently been linked with a fight against ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannou.
