Daniel Dubois is open to facing Anthony Joshua next after his secondary WBA title fight against Trevor Bryan and says he would “definitely” beat the former heavyweight world champion.
Purse bids for his clash with Bryan, which is set to take place in May, have been postponed until Monday 21 March following a request from Bryan’s promoter Don King. A statement from the WBA confirmed: “The original date was 14 March but different requirements from the champion Bryan’s team made it necessary to postpone.”
Joshua, meanwhile, is on the hunt for an interim bout having been due to fight Oleksandr Usyk in a rematch for the WBA, WBO and IBF belts this spring. With Usyk joining the Ukrainian war effort against Russia, it is impossible to put a date on his return.
Sources told i that governing bodies are reluctant to put a timeframe on when the issue is resolved due to the nature of Usyk’s absence, but Dubois is one of a number of heavyweights, along with Joe Joyce and Otto Wallin, being touted as an opponent for Joshua in the meantime.
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“Me and Joshua would be a massive fight,” Dubois told i. “That would be a great dust-up.
“If that were to happen next, I’d be all for it. These guys, I want them next.”
On the back of Joshua’s September defeat to Usyk, can Dubois make it three losses from five? “Of course! Definitely, but first thing’s first, get this title and fight Trevor.”
Dubois, who has knocked out Bogdan Dinu and Joe Cusumano since his shock defeat to Joyce in November 2020, expects his mandatory challenge of Bryan to happen in the USA, though that will not be confirmed until purse bids are completed.
The WBA has also confirmed that they have ordered an eliminator fight between No 3 ranked Robert Helenius and Hughie Fury (ranked No 4) – they have 180 days to fight, as of 29 January, with Fury reportedly interested in the winner of Dubois and Bryan after that.
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The major obstacle if Dubois were in contention to fight Joshua would be the timing. “Dynamite” is scheduled to fight Bryan in late spring, realistically ruling him out until the autumn when the former three-belt champion would have already looked to be fighting.
Joyce has also thrown his hat in the ring after Joshua said he had “stopped him in one round” at amateur level and would “do the same thing today”.
“You’re a glass cannon, quit the act, you were given everything #easymode,” Joyce responded. The 2016 Olympic silver medallist then accused Joshua of “ducking” him and added: “Two GB Lions in an all British heavyweight showdown! This fight would be massive. I’m highly ranked and undefeated. Let’s get it!”
Joshua recently suggested it had been a “gift and a curse” becoming heavyweight champion in just his 16th professional fight against Charles Martin as “it stopped my progression as an active fighter”, which he is keen to address by avoiding any more long absences from the ring.
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