Anthony Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed in an interview his fighter's strategic intentions for the period following the December bout with Tyson Fury. According to the executive, the British heavyweight primarily considers a rematch with Daniel Dubois, to whom he lost in September 2024. As Hearn emphasized, Joshua is a "competitive boxer" who has had rematches with every opponent who has beaten him except Dubois, and it is this defeat that he wants to "avenge" connection with.
An Injury That Needs Healing: The Context of the Wembley Defeat
Reminding us why the rematch with Dubois has become a personal goal for Joshua requires a return to September 2024. Back then at Wembley Stadium, Dubois knocked out his compatriot in the fifth round, while Joshua himself went down four times during the fight. It is precisely this humiliating defeat, according to Hearn, that still defines the Briton's motivation: "He wants to try to beat Daniel once again and avenge that defeat." Thus, the rematch turns not just into another title fight, but into an element of psychological and professional "healing" for the 36-year-old champion.
Fury First: December 11 in Cardiff
Nevertheless, as Hearn emphasized, all of Joshua's thoughts are currently focused on the bout against Tyson Fury, which is scheduled to take place on December 11 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. The World Boxing Association (WBA) is expected to sanction this fight as a heavyweight super-champion clash. It is the result of this matchup that will determine the further trajectory of Joshua's career and who his next opponent will be.
The Unification Scenario: Why Dubois is a Logical Target
From a promotional standpoint, Joshua's meeting with Dubois carries special weight: Dubois holds the WBO title, while Joshua holds the status that the WBA intends to confirm in the fight with Fury. In this case, a potential rematch could become a unification bout, making it commercially and athletically attractive. Hearn did not rule out an alternative scenario either: if Joshua gets past Fury, the next step could be a fight against Filip Hrgovic, who is reportedly preparing for his first IBF title defense in Croatia. "It's a dangerous fight, but if he beats Tyson Fury, then why not? It could be a title unification bout or a meeting with Filip Hrgovic," the promoter added.
Dubois' Position and Calendar Realities
Dubois himself stated that he is not focusing on a specific opponent and is ready to face any champion, naming Filip Hrgovic and Agit Kabayel among potential opponents: "Any of them. All the guys who have titles. I can't move backward — I need to move forward, to big and better fights. We are ready to wait, but in the meantime just give me a name and I'll prepare." At the same time, Dubois is expected to return to the ring in February following two consecutive wins over Fabio Wardley, which means a meeting with the winner of the Fury-Joshua showdown will most likely take place no earlier than the second half of next year.
What This Means for the Heavyweight Division
Thus, the December Joshua-Fury bout becomes a pivotal hub upon which the balance of power in the heavyweight division for the coming year depends. A victory for the Briton paves the way for a unification rematch with Dubois or a fight with Hrgovic, while a defeat reshuffles the map of titles and scenarios. In any case, as the public rhetoric of both Hearn and Dubois himself shows, both camps view the potential encounter as one of the premier events in the heavyweight division, and it is on December 11 in Cardiff that the first step towards its realization will be taken.
