Shock Announcement: Anthony Joshua Chooses Next Opponent – You Won’t Believe Who!
ANTHONY JOSHUA has narrowed his hunt for his next opponent to only one man and is “100 percent focused” on the bout.
AJ is scheduled to return to Wembley in September, and talks are nearly complete, according to recent reports.
Anthony Joshua is closing in on his next fight.
Daniel Dubois is the top contender to welcome Joshua back to a British ring after three road wins in Riyadh.
At a press conference on June 26, promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed that Dubois is the frontrunner to face AJ in his next fight.
Hearn told iFL TV: “We’re focussed on fighting Daniel Dubois for the world title at Wembley but it is not all agreed.
“There’s still work to be done but 100 per cent, myself, His Excellency, George Warren, Spencer Brown, we’re all working together to make it happen.”
Hearn hopes the all-English clash will be for the IBF belt.
Dubois recently defeated Filip Hrgovic to win the IBF interim title, securing his next shot at Oleksandr Usyk’s full version.
However, Oleksandr Usyk will be unable to face No. 1 contender Dubois since he is scheduled to rematch Tyson Fury following his epic victory in May.
So there was optimism that the IBF would strip the Ukrainian undisputed champion, allowing AJ and Dubois to compete for the vacant title.
But the IBF told Sky Sports there has been NO request to sanction the all-Brit bout for the belt.
Usyk, 37, became the heavyweight division’s first four-belt undisputed champ following victory over Fury, 35.
And now the two are set to rematch back in Saudi on December 21.
Deontay Wilder was in the mix to fight AJ but twice fluffed his lines following defeats to Joseph Parker, 32, and Zhilei Zhang, 41.
So after Dubois’ win over Hrgovic, 32, he leads the line to fight Joshua with Wilder, 38, facing retirement.
Daniel Dubois is the leading name to fight Joshua next.