Anthony Joshua may not fight Daniel Dubois at Wembley despite his British rival’s stunning win last weekend.
Dubois stopped Filip Hrgovic in Saudi Arabia to become the interim IBF heavyweight world champion. He could be upgraded to the ‘full’ champion if Oleksandr Usyk is stripped of his belt. But while Dubois called out Joshua after his win – and his promoter Frank Warren confirmed talks had started over a Wembley showdown on September 21 – Hearn insists Joshua could look elsewhere.
The former two-time heavyweight ruler could face Zhang Zhilei who stopped Deontay wilder on the same Riyadh card. Or he could face a resurgent Joseph Parker in a rematch of their world title fight in 2018. “There’s nothing agreed or confirmed for AJ in September, His Excellency would like AJ to headline at Wembley. It would incredible for Riyadh season and for British boxing, who the opponent will be is undecided,” Hearn told iFL TV.
“You’ve got Zhilei Zhang, a great fight, you’ve got Daniel Dubois, another great fight. You’ve got Joseph Parker who’s on a great run, a number of heavyweights that could feature. The aim for us is AJ to become world heavyweight champion and if the IBF belt becomes available which we we expect it to, then there’s a chance of Dubois against AJ for the world heavyweight title.
“That’s definitely a fight that appeals, but nothing agreed or confirmed yet. There is a press conference on the 25 or 26th of June and that is when the opponent will be announced, so not long to find out either way. “The only way AJ could fight for a world title at Wembley if with the IBF so if that’s the case I would say that is the frontrunner at the moment.”
Joshua lost his world titles to Usyk in 2021 and failed to win them back in a rematch the following year. But he has since put together a four- fight winning streak to put himself back into world title contention. Joshua outpointed Jermaine Franklin last year before stopping Robert Helenius and Otto Wallin. He then knocked out former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in the second round three months ago.
