Daniel Dubois has welcomed a rematch with Anthony Joshua after stopping him inside five rounds last month.
The 27-year-old defended his new IBF World Heavyweight Title with the impressive stoppage win, dashing ‘AJ’s hopes of becoming a three-time champion. Post-fight, promoter Eddie Hearn said his man would want to avenge the loss in an immediate rematch.
Trainer Don Charles – who has just returned from a trip to Ghana where he intends to build a boxing academy to help the youth – told Seconds Out that, like fans, he awaits news on the next fight.
“I got back into the country yesterday and I’m still in holiday-mode. I’ve been reading a few things, I haven’t really been paying much attention. I know when everything is agreed. I don’t get involved in that side of it. When it’s go time, Frank will call me, and Daniel’s father, to tell me this is our next fight.”
The trainer, who guided Dubois to wins over Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic before the ‘AJ’ fight, said he was surprised at how quickly Joshua’s team mentioned a second fight given how the first played out.
“They were mentioning a rematch, which was really surprising me. The timing of them vocalising about this rematch, literally the fight had hardly finished and in the ring, ‘oh, we want a rematch.’ I must be missing something. I read the articles and seen the interviews about the rematch, but it’s gone quite silent in the last four days or so. Monday, I will make a call to the office to ask for developments, cause we need to know. Daniel Dubois is fighting in February. Who the opponent will be, as I sit here, I couldn’t tell you.”
Charles, however, understands the thinking being it.
“That’s what gladiators do. Whether it’s the right or wrong decision, they want to fight. Joshua believes that he should’ve been victorious against Daniel Dubois. He wasn’t, far from it. So, his immediate reaction is I’m better than that, I can do better. When they go back as a team and discuss it, weigh up the pros and cons, then they’ll decide. When reality really sinks in, they will make the right decision.
The right decision for them might be to go straight back in. After all, that’s Joshua’s more direct route to getting his hands on a title. Whereas if you’re waiting for Fury and Usyk, he can’t go and fight the winner because you can’t just fight for the title off the back of a loss. He needs to get a win. I can understand the logic from how they’re seeing it. The most direct shot back at the title is Daniel. Rolling the dice.”
Asked if he believes the rematch happens, Charles said:
“We’ve got the belt, no matter what happens. I don’t believe they’ll roll the dice this time.”
Hearn has since revealed that he believes Joshua won’t be ready for the February fight date and will instead return in summer of 2025. News on Dubois’ next opponent is expected shortly.
