Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois now in the works for Wembley Stadium in September

Joshua is aiming to become a three-time heavyweight champion

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 nightโ€™s hugely entertaining Queensberry-Matchroom 5 vs. 5 event in Riyadh โ€“ where Frank Warrenโ€™s outfit won 10-0 โ€“ changed potential plans for Joshuaโ€™s next bout.

During the DAZN broadcast Alalshikh told host Ade Oladipo his preference for Joshuaโ€™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.

dubois stops hrgovic
Dubois enjoyed a career-best win against Hrgovic on June 1

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 News spoke to Joshuaโ€™s promoter, Eddie Hearn, after last nightโ€™s action at the Kingdom Arena and asked if Dubois would be next for ‘AJ’.

โ€œI think so, yeah, I mean we’re going to go to His Excellencyโ€™s now. If a world title’s on the line, which I think it may well be, it’s a big fight.

โ€œDaniel 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,โ€ 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 โ€“ with the three other titles โ€“ 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.

 

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