Eddie Hearn, promoter of Anthony Joshua, believes that the defeated heavyweight will exercise his rematch clause to face Daniel Dubois again. Joshua, 34, suffered a knockout loss to Dubois in the fifth round of their fight at Wembley Stadium, where 96,000 fans witnessed the match. This defeat also meant Joshua missed an opportunity to capture the IBF world heavyweight title.
In a post-fight interview, Hearn expressed confidence that a rematch is on the horizon. “I am sure he’ll exercise that rematch clause. I think that’s a given,” he stated. Hearn also acknowledged the challenges ahead for Joshua, noting the need for a recovery period and the threat posed by Dubois, who continues to build his confidence. “He’ll believe he can beat him. But full credit to Daniel Dubois, he deserves all the credit tonight; it was a great performance from Daniel,” Hearn added.
Conversely, Dubois’ promoter, Frank Warren, is eager for Dubois to take on Oleksandr Usyk, who is set to fight Tyson Fury again in December. Warren commented on Usyk’s standing as a top heavyweight, recalling that Dubois previously gave him a tough challenge. “He hurt him during their first fight in 2023. I’d like to see him fight Usyk now, but obviously he has to take on Tyson first, and I believe Tyson will prevail,” Warren remarked.
Dubois himself expressed interest in facing Usyk, indicating that he views it as a chance for redemption. “Anyone… anyone can get it,” he stated. “I’ve just been on a rollercoaster ride. This is my time, this is my redemption story, and I’m not going to stop until I reach my full potential.”
Regarding his fourth career defeat, Joshua reflected on the fight, saying, “Credit to him and his team, we rolled the dice at success and we came up short.” He also expressed gratitude to the fans, acknowledging their support despite the outcome. “You know I’m p*****, you know I’m ready to kick off in the ring but I’m going to keep my cool and stay professional and give respect to my opponent.”