Promoter Eddie Hearn thinks Anthony Joshua will select to steam straight into the rematch with Daniel Dubois as a substitute of concentrating on Tyson Fury for his subsequent combat within the first half of 2025.
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Hearn believes that there’s a robust chance that Fury will probably be beltless when he fights Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) subsequent yr, and he’d reasonably have AJ go into that conflict with the IBF title in his possession.
The Joshua-Fury combat would have extra substance to it if at the least one in all them holds a world title, and Joshua has a greater probability of being the one with a belt. Fury regarded overmatched in his loss to Oleksandr Usyk final Could, and the possibilities are excessive that he’ll lose the rematch on December twenty first.
Hearn acknowledges that Joshua, 34, might lose the rematch in opposition to Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs), which might sink his profession. However he feels that’s the place AJ is in proper now, and he can’t keep away from these necessary fights. To compete on the highest stage, Joshua has no selection however to place his profession on the road. He’s already had his 4 rebuilding fights, and he’s acquired to swim with the sharks now.
“I feel if it was as much as AJ, and finally it’s, the reply goes to be a right away rematch,” mentioned Eddie Hearn to BoxNation about Anthony Joshua more likely to take the fast rematch with Daniel Dubois.
“I can’t see him doing the rest however to attempt to avenge that defeat. Clearly, he takes a variety of his recommendation from me, Ben, Freddie, and the entire staff, and he’ll collate that recommendation, and he’ll make his personal choice.”
Joshua wants a greater sport plan if he’s going to take the rematch with Dubois as a result of it didn’t work final time for him to combat passively within the first spherical. Dubois pounced on AJ, hurting him with huge photographs and knocking him down with a proper hand that he by no means recovered from. Joshua hasn’t mentioned something about eager to sack the staff, however he ought to take into account dumping at the least his coach, Ben Davison.
“I really feel like there’s a variety of positives from having six or seven weeks off after which getting again to work versus ready for a combat [Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2 rematch],” mentioned Hearn. “What occurs if that’s delayed? Then, ready to attempt to combat somebody in July or August of subsequent yr.
“The exercise has been actually good for AJ, and I feel that’s actually helped him. I feel that’s going to assist him get again sooner reasonably than later. I don’t assume he’s up for warmup fights. I feel he’s up for the largest fights on the market, and that will positively be a rematch with Daniel Dubois.”
Hearn isn’t saying how quickly he would need Joshua to combat Dubois, however it could be higher for it to not be too quickly so he can have time to let his head clear from the onerous punches he took. If Joshua goes into camp instantly, he may undergo concussions throughout coaching after which come into the rematch with Dubois half-stunned already.
“Perhaps, however that’s the place you’re at in your profession,” mentioned Hearn when requested if Joshua might be completed as a fighter if he loses the rematch in opposition to Dubois. “When you wait and also you boxed Tyson Fury and also you misplaced to him, is that the tip of your profession?”
So long as Joshua is okay with having his profession on the road for the Dubois combat, it’s okay. He received’t go into the combat, not understanding what he’s risking.
“It’s [Fury] a combat for Joshua that’s unlikely to hold a world championship,” mentioned Hearn, making it clear that he expects Fury to lose the rematch with Oleksandr Usyk in December, leaving Tyson beltless when he faces Joshua.
“So for me, the important thing for AJ is he has a straight shot on the [IBF] world title. So, it’s going to be troublesome for him to show that down,” mentioned Hearn.
