Looks like Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois won’t be stepping back into the ring together just yet, especially since Frank Warren, Queensberry Promotions honcho, has just dropped some big hints about Dubois’ next opponent. Meanwhile, AJ might be left playing the waiting game for the Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk bout, set to go down later this year. 

In September, ‘DDD’ shocked the world by defeating the former unified heavyweight champion by knocking him down four times en route to a 5th-round KO win. Immediately, a potential rematch was being tossed around, with both parties being open to such a bout. However, since then, the talks for a rematch seem to have fizzled out. 

The next bloke in town was Queensberry’s own Fabio Wardley, who just last month made quick work of Frazer Clarke in their rematch, earning a top 15 spot on the IBF chart. With Dubois given optional defense, some thought Fabio could make for an interesting choice. However, while appearing in an interview with Sky Sports recently—Warren cut that cord. 

“No, he won’t get the fight next,” Warren said. “We never even discussed that. Fabio would like it I am sure, but we are in discussion with a couple of people.” However, this doesn’t mean fans shouldn’t expect to see the pair exchange blows in the future. “Fabio needs to fight somebody in the top 10… [and show] to the world what he is all about… We can build that into a mega-fight.”

Later in the interview, Warren revealed that Dubois’ next fight is coming pretty soon. “We’re quite near to, I believe, announcing something in the next week or so, and that will be a big fight for him next February,” Warren said. The 72-year-old has previously hinted at pitting Dubois against someone in the IBF top 10. 

No.3 Agit Kabayel and No. 4 Martin Bakole have been ordered to face each other, so that rules them out. It leaves Zhilei Zhang, Frank Sanchez, and Derek Chisora. However, the reporter from Sky Sports had another name in mind, someone who has already defeated Zhilei Zhang and Deontay Wilder—Joseph Parker. 

“That would be a good fight, by the way. I haven’t got a problem with that fight, but we’ve got to see what happens,” Warren told Sky Sports. “It’s only going to take a week or so to get this over the line.” Warren concluded by saying that they were waiting for Joshua to seal the deal on a rematch, “but that’s not transpired. It’s not working out. So we are where we are.”

That said, why didn’t it work? As it turns out, it could be because of advice from a certain someone. 

Anthony Joshua advised to skip the Daniel Dubois rematch

‘AJ’ has always gone after a rematch following a loss—he did with Andy Ruiz and Oleksandr Usyk, even though the Usyk rematch proved futile. However, this time, it doesn’t appear to be the case. Meanwhile, Barry Hearn, Matchroom Boxing owner, has advised Joshua to wait for the Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury fight. 

“I think Dubois is dangerous and he’s going to be super confident after the last job,” Hearn said on The Barry Hearn Show. He claimed Joshua could still defeat Dubois if he boxed differently, but suggested ‘AJ’ should not rush into it. Instead, “If Oleksandr Usyk beats Tyson Fury… then the most sensible thing would be one or two fights with Tyson Fury.”

Interestingly, Fury has shown openness to the idea. Plus, if Fury loses by a stoppage or a knockout, it would put them in the same position, making a potential fight between them very much possible. 

It appears Anthony Joshua won’t be going after Daniel Dubois after all. Meanwhile, Frank Warren is set to make a big announcement on who ‘DDD’ will fight next. Still, it’s yet to be seen whether Joshua heeds Hearn’s advice to wait for Usyk vs. Fury II. What do you think Joshua should do? Who do you think Dubois will fight?