The rematch between IBF world heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois and former two-time champion Anthony Joshua is drawing nearer, with Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, suggesting February as a possible date.
Alalshikh made this announcement following the press conference for the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol fight on Saturday night.
He also noted that a major fight card is being organized, featuring rival promoters Queensberry and Matchroom.
“See in February again Queensberry against Matchroom, 5 vs. 5, we will finish it maybe this week with a big surprise, and then let’s see the result about this fight, the result of the big fight December 21, [Oleksandr] Usyk-Tyson [Fury],” Alalshikh told Sky Sports.
“Joshua, Dubois, Tyson, Usyk, everyone, everyone on the line.
“This is what we want. We want the big fights and to see who’s really the best fighter in each division.”
Last month, Joshua’s bid to become a three-time world champion and return to the division’s top table ended dramatically and unexpectedly, with Dubois dropping him several times at Wembley Stadium in front of 98,000 fans before he landed the final blow, a crunching right-hand, in Round 5 that left Joshua sprawling on the canvas for a fourth career loss.
The defeat sent shockwaves through the boxing world, with some pundits questioning Joshua’s future in the sport.
Reacting to talks about his future, Joshua vowed to continue boxing, with his promoter confirming that the Middle Eastern kingdom will stage the rematch as part of the Riyadh Season, a festival of entertainment and sports events that runs from October to early March.
Queen’s Frank Warren, Dubois’ promoter, welcomed the prospect of a rematch.
“It’s all about styles, but also with AJ, you’ve got to put him on the back foot, and that’s what he did,” Warren told Sky Sports.
“He put him on the back foot. That first jab he threw snapped his head back, and that set the pattern of the fight. I think it was the fourth round; he caught Daniel with an uppercut; that was his most significant punch.
“But you want AJ to trade with you, because if he trades, he’s vulnerable. Once he throws that punch, you can catch him on the counter, and that’s what he did.”
Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn, who promotes Joshua, when previously discussing the rematch between the two heavyweights said, “I think it would be part of Riyadh Season in Riyadh. Riyadh Season runs from October to the end of February and early March.
“So anything within that period takes place in Riyadh. So yeah, it would be part of the Riyadh Season if it were to happen.”
