Anthony Joshua’s Comeback Dealt Major Blow As Targeted Opponent Won’t Fight Him ‘For A Long Time’

Anthony Joshua‘s next fight options are dwindling.

The two-time heavyweight world champion attempted to make it three against new IBF World Heavyweight title-holder Daniel Dubois this year but was knocked out in five rounds.

Post-fight, ‘AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn said that they would be looking into an immediate rematch. Following some positive talks and hype for the fight, Hearn then revealed that niggling injuries would prevent his charge from the February 22 date that Dubois will be fighting on.

That will now be against a top 15 contender within the sanctioning body or a worthy challenger like Joseph Parker. Team Joshua still insisted that Dubois could be his next fight but that it would take place when he returns in the summer of 2025.

Dubois’ promoter Frank Warren, speaking to TalkSPORT, has now poured cold water on that idea. He has clarified that following his voluntary defence in February, the 27-year-old will be called to face a mandatory challenger. Those plans put Joshua ‘out of the picture’ for ‘a long while’.

“People forget Daniel’s fight with AJ was his mandatory fight to defend his belt. Having done that and won he is now allowed up until April to fight who he wants.

“So we can take who we want in a February fight. The IBF are quite strict on mandatory challengers and now there will be other names at the top of their list for that ahead of Joshua. So AJ is out of the picture as a mandatory challenger. He will be out of the picture for a long while.”

The mandatory position with the IBF is set to be fought for by Martin Bakole and Agit Kabayel – a great heavyweight match-up which goes to purse bids imminently and could well land on the same February card in Saudi Arabia.

Joshua has one preferred option left, and that is wait to see how the Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury rematch plays out in December and target Fury thereafter.

Usyk will defend his unified titles on the night and looks to beat Fury for a second time, the first coming back in May in their historic undisputed clash. The hope for Joshua is that ‘The Gypsy King’ could sign a long-awaited clash later in the year if he loses. Hearn has stated that Dubois and Fury are, at this moment in time, the only significant opponents.

‘AJ’s team will be hopeful Fury will consider the match-up even if he wins, but the man from Morecambe believes Usyk deserves a trilogy if that is the case.