Former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will have to wait longer for his highly anticipated bout with Tyson Fury, as he maps out his return to the ring following his devastating loss to Daniel Dubois.
According to his promoter Eddie Hearn, who believes a showdown with Fury could be next for the British star despite suffering a crushing fifth-round knockout defeat to Dubois at Wembley Stadium in September, Joshua remains arguably still the biggest star in the heavyweight division.
However, Fury’s co-promoter Frank Warren has cast doubt on Joshua’s immediate future in the division, insisting the former champion needs to rebuild his credibility first.
The path back to the top appears complicated for Joshua, with an immediate rematch against Dubois already ruled out.
Warren confirmed that Dubois will defend his IBF heavyweight title on February 22 against a yet-to-be-announced opponent, with negotiations in advanced stages for the champion’s next fight.
While Joshua personally desires another shot at Dubois, Hearn suggested this could potentially happen in the summer, depending on the outcome of the December 21 unification clash between Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, where the WBC, WBO, and WBA belts will be at stake.
