Johnny Nelson says it’s clear that Anthony Joshua and promoter Eddie Hearn don’t want the rematch with IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois. They’ve not made a move to negotiate the rematch after Joshua’s humiliating fifth-round knockout on September 21st last year, and they’re more focused on waiting for Tyson Fury to come out of his retirement.
Waiting for Fury
Nelson believes that Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) doesn’t want to take the risk of fighting Dubois again because if he loses a second time, “He’s done” as a fighter. So, AJ is avoiding Dubois like the plague, waiting for Fury. He says that if Joseph Parker defeats Dubois in their fight on February 22nd, AJ will fight him. Joshua already beat Parker in 2018, so he’s safe.
Hearn has mentioned Deontay Wilder along with Fury as two possibilities. If Fury doesn’t come out of retirement soon, Joshua will likely face the 39-year-old Wilder. That’s another winnable one for Joshua.
“When you were talking about the rematch between AJ and Daniel Dubois, he said he had an injury. So, he had to take some time off for the injury. Now, he’s not injured, and he’s talking about fighting again,” said Johnny Nelson to Boxing King Media about Anthony Joshua showing that he’s not interested in fighting Daniel Dubois again.
“Now, Daniel Dubois’ name has been forgotten. He’s talking about fighting X, Y, Z instead of fighting Daniel Dubois because that fight could be made tomorrow in a heartbeat. So that tells me AJ’s people don’t want it, or AJ doesn’t want it.
“I think the buck stops with AJ, and I’m quite sure that Eddie [Hearn] is quite persuasive in looking at business or heart. I just think they [Team Joshua] don’t want that fight [Dubois], because if it happens again, he’s done. So now it’s a case of hanging around to see when Tyson comes back from his retirement or picking the right available fight.”
It’s so evident that Hearn and Joshua don’t want any part of ever fighting Dubois again because they would have already quickly pulled the trigger on the rematch. When AJ lost to the blimp, Andy Ruiz Jr., on June 1st, 2019, Hearn promptly put together the rematch in light speed for December 7th that year. They couldn’t wait to try to avenge the loss.
Joshua and Hearn aren’t doing that with Dubois. Initially, Hearn said Joshua was injured and needed time to heal. It’s now been five months, and AJ still isn’t pushing for the rematch, which can only mean one thing: He’s afraid. Although Hearn mentions occasionally that Dubois is one of a handful of opponents Joshua wants to fight, he’s made no move to negotiate it. That tells us they lack the confidence to take the fight.
No Bakole for Joshua
“I don’t think the fight against Martin Bakole will happen. I think that was a showman, them two head-to-head. Wilder, that could happen. Now, I think he’s [AJ] a mercenary. His ambitions to become world champion again [is not there], or if Joseph Parker beats Daniel Dubois, I can see him getting in with Joseph Parker,” said Nelson.
Last Updated on 02/09/2025