No rematch clause but Dubois is more than happy to fight Joshua again: “It was a great showing but next time I believe I’ll be more clinical”
27-year-old Daniel Dubois dropped Anthony Joshua four times en route to a shock fifth-round knockout win last Saturday night at Wembley Stadium that has shaken up the glamour division.
AJ immediately vowed to continue fighting after the record-breaking event ended, but he may not get his first choice opponent, as Frank Warren revealed there’s no rematch clause in Dubois’ contract.
Joshua still intends to continue his quest to become a three-time world champ, but he may have to wait in line for another shot at DDD.
Joshua’s long-term promoter Eddie Hearn insisted there was a rematch clause and that his client was likely to activate it immediately after the crushing defeat.
However, Queensberry Promotions chief Frank Warren has confirmed there is no such clause in Dubois’ paperwork, although they will entertain a second fight if both parties want to do it.
Warren told talkSPORT, “He doesn’t have a rematch in his contract, but there is one in AJ’s contract.
“I haven’t got a problem with a rematch if they want to do it and the terms are all okay. But it is too soon.
“He needs to savour the moment, he has shown what he is all about now fighting four world-ranked fighters this year.”
Asked if he wants to run it back with Joshua, Dubois responded, “Yeah, if that happens down the line, then yes.
“If that happens next, then yeah. I want to go for it.
“I want to do even better next time. I know where I need to improve as well, so as a champion and a fighter I want to prove people wrong every time and that’s what we have been doing.
“I think I would, I can do a lot better than that. It was a great showing but next time I believe I’ll be more clinical. More sharp, everything.”
Speaking to talkSPORT, Daniel Dubois said he is proud of himself after knocking out Anthony Joshua, “I was not gonna freeze. I wasn’t overawed or anything by the occasion. To me it was like a stroll in the park walking in there. I was just doing everyone proud, my family and my team. I couldn’t let them down. I did myself proud.
“All the fights I’ve had recently have been top level fights and I’ve come through every one of them, so yeah, I’m proud of myself.”
Undisputed
It was widely expected, before the big all-British bout, that whoever emerged victorious would challenge the winner of the Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury rematch on December 21.
If this comes to fruition then it would mark the second undisputed heavyweight clash of the four-belt era this century.
Usyk relinquished his IBF strap, because the governing body do not recognise rematch clauses, so he and Fury will be disputing the WBC, WBA, WBO and IBO belts in their forthcoming festive fight.
Quizzed on whether he would rather rematch AJ or fight the Usyk vs Fury winner, Dubois said: “I would love a rematch, but either one really, whoever pays me more money.”
Dubois has never fought Fury but was defeated by Usyk back in August 2023.
In the fifth round, Dubois sent Usyk tumbling to the canvas, but it was ruled a low blow by the referee, and the Ukrainian was given five minutes to recover.
Four rounds later, Usyk forced Dubois to take a knee, from which he didn’t recover, suffering a second career defeat.