Eddie Hearn, the promoter for Anthony Joshua, is confident that the defeated boxer will have the opportunity to face Daniel Dubois in a rematch. Joshua, 34, experienced a knockout loss to Dubois in the fifth round of their matchup at Wembley Stadium, where he aimed for the IBF heavyweight title. However, it appears that Joshua will likely exercise his rematch clause for another fight against Dubois, who is 27 years old.
Following the bout in front of a crowd of 96,000, Hearn stated, “I am sure he’ll exercise that rematch clause. I think that’s a given.” He noted that Joshua will need some time to recuperate and acknowledged the dangers of facing Dubois again, as the younger fighter continues to gain confidence. Hearn gave credit to Dubois for his performance, emphasizing the need for Joshua to believe in his capacity to win in a rematch.
On the flip side, Dubois’ promoter, Frank Warren, expressed interest in having his fighter face Oleksandr Usyk, who is set to contend with Tyson Fury for a second time in a rematch this December. Warren remarked that Usyk is currently one of the top heavyweights in the world and had previously provided Dubois with his most challenging match. However, he acknowledged that Dubois must first contend with Fury.
Warren praised the performance of his fighter, highlighting Dubois’ courage, skill, and resilience, particularly after enduring a challenging moment when Joshua landed a significant shot. When asked about future opponents, Dubois mentioned Usyk as a possibility, declaring, “This is my time, this is my redemption story, and I’m not going to stop until I reach my full potential.”
In the aftermath of his loss, Joshua reflected on his fourth career defeat, admitting, “Credit to him and his team, we rolled the dice at success and we come up short.” He expressed gratitude to the crowd at Wembley for their support, stating, “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 keep very professional and give the respect to my opponent.”