AN all-British world heavyweight title fight could take place in September at Wembley Stadium.
Anthony Joshua is set to return to the home of English football on another card backed by Turki Alalshikh and Riyadh Season. But last night’s hugely entertaining Queensberry-Matchroom 5 vs. 5 event in Riyadh – where Frank Warren’s outfit won 10-0 – changed potential plans for Joshua’s next bout.
During the DAZN broadcast Alalshikh told host Ade Oladipo his preference for Joshua’s next opponent was Deontay Wilder but later that night the American suffered his second consecutive loss, this time to Zhilei Zhang whose thudding power put paid to any hope of Joshua-Wilder happening with a fifth round stoppage.
Another option for Joshua had been the winner of Filip Hrgovic and Daniel Dubois, the penultimate contest before Wilder vs. Zhang. Dubois outworked and stopped the Croat who was halted in the eighth round on medical grounds having suffered cuts above both eyes. The victory rewarded Dubois with the IBF interim title.
Boxing Newsspoke to Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, after last night’s action at the Kingdom Arena and asked if Dubois would be next for ‘AJ’.
“I think so, yeah, I mean we’re going to go to His Excellency’s now. If a world title’s on the line, which I think it may well be, it’s a big fight.
“Daniel did excellently tonight. I know that His Excellency wanted to look at the Wilder fight, obviously that’s not there anymore, so we’ll have to look at what’s next. I believe there’s a press conference coming up in a couple of weeks and we shall make an announcement with His Excellency about the huge Wembley card,” said Hearn.
Dubois now must wait to find out what happens regarding his position as interim belt holder. Champion and undisputed king Oleksandr Usyk has asked the sanctioning body to allow the IBF strap to be on the line – with the three other titles – for his rematch against Tyson Fury on December 21. The IBF say they have not put a time frame on their decision, but should they strip Usyk, then Dubois will either be elevated to full champion or fight for the fully recognised IBF heavyweight title in his next fight.
