Frank Warren has dismissed any rumours of a potential rematch between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois happening next. The second bout between the pair was touted for February 2025, but it appears that Joshua will not be ready for a second bite at the IBF heavyweight champion by then. Fabio Wardley is also not being considered for Dubois’ next outing
Frank Warren has dismissed rumours of a rematch between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois happening in the near future.
The Queensberry Promotions chief said that he is currently assessing all options for Dubois’ next fight, after ‘Dynamite’ stunned the world when he knocked Joshua out at Wembley in September.
It has been widely thought that Joshua would seek immediate revenge on his compatriot, but Warren has quashed any suggestions of an imminent rematch.
Joshua, who was knocked down four times during the bout, voiced his desire for a rematch following the defeat, but it appears that negotiations for a potential February 22 date have stalled.
“I don’t see [the Joshua rematch] happening next,” Warren told BoxNation. “We’re looking at a couple of things at the moment and we’ll make a decision.
“I was hoping we’d get it done fairly quickly, but we won’t. I was hoping to get it done last week and then this week. Sometime next week we’ll be in the position where we can close on something. We’re talking to a few other guys.
“I’m hearing that he’s injured. Whatever it is, if things are going to happen, they happen. It’s taken a while to feel like it won’t happen, and unless I get a phone call saying it’s on, then we’ve got to make some decisions.
“We’re in the Daniel Dubois business. He’s the champion. He’s the guy who matters to me. [February 22] is when I want to get him out, and he wants to be out.”
The IBF confirmed this week that Dubois was able to make an optional defence of his title against any of their ranked opponents before April 22.
DUBOIS v WARDLEY COULD BE ‘MEGA’
Fabio Wardley, who produced an excellent knockout victory over Frazer Clarke in Saudi Arabia last month, has been suggested as a possible opponent.
He is also represented by Queensberry, but Warren shrugged off the chances of the undefeated East Anglian facing Dubois.
“I don’t see that happening next,” Warren said of a potential Dubois v Wardley bout. “Fabio will fight anybody; he’s a fighting man. He comes from an unlicensed background.
“He’s a guy that you’ve seen what he’s all about. He goes in there, and he gives everything and comes to fight. That fight could be built into something mega. There’s no doubt about that.”
Another name that has been linked with Dubois is Joseph Parker, who has hauled himself back into world title reckoning after victories over Zhilei Zhang and Deontay Wilder.
“I like most of the fights out there for him,” Warren said. “[Joseph Parker] is one of them. We’ll see.
“We’re not going to be rushed into anything. We’ll look at where we are and make a considered choice, but it’s got to be something that suits everybody who’s involved, and suits Daniel, because he’s the champion. He’s the guy.”
