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IBF world heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois has signaled his intent to once again face former two-time heavyweight titleholder Anthony Joshua in their much-anticipated rematch. Speaking to BoxNation, Dubois declared his readiness to assert his dominance in the ring.
“He’s going to have a lot of demons to deal with,” Dubois remarked. “Who knows if he’s being pushed into this by others, but I’m focused on my side of things. I’m ready to step in and prove that I’m the king.”
At 27, Dubois is also eyeing another high-stakes bout—potentially a rematch with Oleksandr Usyk, should the Ukrainian defeat Tyson Fury in their scheduled December clash. “That fight is unfinished business for me,” Dubois said, referring to his loss to Usyk in 2023. “I want to settle it properly and end it on my terms. A unification fight would be huge.”
Dubois’ confidence comes on the heels of his stunning victory over Joshua last month, where he knocked ‘AJ’ down multiple times in front of 98,000 fans at Wembley Stadium. The fifth-round knockout marked Joshua’s fourth career loss and sent shockwaves through the boxing world, with many questioning his future in the sport.
Despite the defeat, Joshua quickly dispelled doubts about his retirement, with his promoter, Eddie Hearn, confirming that a rematch between the two heavyweights is set to take place in Saudi Arabia as part of the Riyadh Season, a festival of entertainment and sports running from October through early March.
Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, revealed last weekend that February is the tentative date for the Joshua-Dubois rematch.
Dubois, who fought Usyk in August 2023 and controversially dropped him with a shot ruled a low blow, is eager to redeem himself. Meanwhile, Joshua, determined to revive his career, recently made headlines by recalling a previous bout in which he claimed to have “ruined” his opponent with a single punch.
With both boxers seeking redemption and glory, the stage is set for what promises to be another explosive encounter in the heavyweight division.
