Sports
Joshua’s Return Delayed Until May, No Rematch With Dubois
British promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed that Anthony Joshua will not return to the ring until at least May next year, effectively ruling out any possibility of a rematch with IBF world heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois.
Joshua, a former two-time heavyweight champion, was knocked down four times by Dubois before suffering a fifth-round knockout at Wembley in September.
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After the defeat, a potential rematch with Dubois was tentatively scheduled for February 22. However, Hearn has now revealed that, due to the extent of Joshua’s injury, the proposed date would be too soon for the 35-year-old to make his return.]
He said, “We had a very awkward call,” he told Boxing News.
“He wanted to fight on February 22 and basically was told that there is no way you can start camp and be 100 per cent for February 22 physically.
“There’s nothing major.
“There are two or three issues that he had a little bit in camp and after the fight.
“And they said you need to come back in May-June, and he didn’t want to do it.
“He wanted to fight on February 22, but unfortunately we kind of had to overrule him on this and say no because we can’t afford not to get this right.
“If you get beaten again by Daniel Dubois, you have to seriously consider your future.
“We got one last chapter in this career that we need to make sure we get a 100 per cent spot on.
“So when he comes back in May or June or whenever that’s going to be, you have to be physically mentally 100 per cent ready.
“He wants to rematch Daniel so bad.”
Meanwhile, Hearn added that Joshua didn’t suffer a major injury.
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“There’s no major injury,” he added.
“Every fighter has niggles in camp, especially when you’re a heavyweight who trains every day and spars really hard.
“There’s nothing that’s going to be a long-term problem.
“For a turnaround after a five- or six-week break after a defeat like that, it’s just not possible to be a hundred per cent.
“There’s no tear in the bicep, just wear-and-tear that means he cannot go into a training camp with the same intensity that he would want to.”
A potential showdown between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, long speculated as a dream fight, is now being considered.
Before that, Fury is set to face unified champion Oleksandr Usyk on December 21, following his defeat to the Ukrainian in May.
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