Eddie Hearn, promoter of British heavyweight Anthony Joshua, has hinted that his fighter is ready to face Tyson Fury as he plans his next move. After suffering a fifth-round knockout against Daniel Dubois at Wembley, Joshua faces a challenging road to reestablish his place in the competitive heavyweight division.
Though this defeat was a tough blow, Joshua remains “arguably the biggest star in the heavyweight division,” according to Hearn. He expressed hope for a potential showdown with Fury, adding that Fury might want to face Joshua next, regardless of the outcome of Fury’s December 21 clash with Oleksandr Usyk.
“I think Fury, win or lose, will want to fight AJ next, and that’s something we’ve got to decide,” Hearn said in an interview with Sky Sports, suggesting that the long-anticipated fight between the two British heavyweights may still be on the horizon.
However, Tyson Fury’s co-promoter, Frank Warren, believes Joshua needs to work on his standing in the sport. “He’s got to establish some credibility, AJ, that’s for sure,” Warren said, noting the uphill battle Joshua faces in securing high-profile bouts.
A rematch with Dubois, which Joshua is eager to pursue, is unlikely in the near term. Warren confirmed that Dubois will defend his IBF title on February 22 against an opponent still being finalized.
“I don’t see the Joshua rematch happening next,” Warren mentioned in an interview with BoxNation. He added that while he hoped the matchup could be arranged quickly, it doesn’t seem feasible right now.
