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Anthony Joshua could switch to “Plan B” if Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk winner vacates as expected

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Anthony Joshua will likely have a close eye on Filip Hrgovic and Daniel Dubois if they fight on June 1.

It’s now being widely reported that the Croatian IBF mandatory challenger will risk his position to take on the young Brit in Saudi Arabia this summer.

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Joshua is the former two-time WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight world champion, and may get a chance to regain his old IBF belt

It’s claimed this bout will take place as part of a mega card alongside Dmitry Bivol vs Artur Beterbiev, Deontay Wilder vs Zhilei Zhang, and the planned Queensberry-Matchroom 5 vs 5 event.

And it will be of keen interest to AJ, as he may well end up facing the winner for a vacant heavyweight world title.

Of course, all four belts will be at stake when Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk meet to crown an undisputed champion on May 18.

However, after that it is known that the IBF will finally order their overdue mandatory fight.

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Dubois will be looking to take his spot

Hrgovic earned his place as their mandatory challenger by beating Zhilei Zhang in 2022 and has been patiently waiting for his shot ever since.

However, as Fury and Usyk have signed a two-way guaranteed rematch clause, it is expected that the winner will likely vacate the IBF belt, and just take the WBA, WBC and WBO crowns into the second fight.

This will leave the IBF to order Hrgovic to face the next highest available contender for their vacant heavyweight world title.

At present, this is Joshua.

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Hrgovic is the current IBF mandatory challenger

Dubois has the chance to crash the party though.

If he beats Hrgovic on June 1, then the IBF would likely order AJ vs Dubois for their vacant heavyweight world title instead.

Time will tell how the situation plays out.

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BOXING

Daniel Dubois ordered to fight for the title Anthony Joshua ‘rejected’

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Daniel Dubois has the opportunity to win one of the few titles Anthony Joshua has never held.

Daniel Dubois has been ordered by the EBU to face Ryad Merhy for the vacant European heavyweight title – a belt Anthony Joshua rejected the opportunity to fight for earlier in his career. Dubois was unable to win the European strap when he fought for it against Joe Joyce back in November 2020 but he has now been given a second bite at the cherry.

Dubois has been ordered to box for the EBU belt
Daniel Dubois has been ordered to box for the EBU belt

The Brit is coming off arguably the best win of his career over Jarrell Miller on the ‘Day of Reckoning’ bill in Saudi Arabia and is looking to get his name back into the world title picture again following an unsuccessful shot at Oleksandr Usyk’s WBA (Super), IBF and WBO heavyweight titles.

Merhy is also flying high after a big win over Olympic gold medalist Tony Yoka in his last outing. The Belgian boxer, who is 32-2 in the paid ranks, beat Yoka via a split decision two months ago in France as he bounced back from a loss to Kevin Lerena.

Lerena was, of course, knocked out by Dubois in 2022 when Triple D picked himself up off the canvas three times in the opening round to stop the South African puncher in the third stanza.

Dubois has been called to face Ryad Merhy
Dubois has been called to face Ryad Merhy

A win over Merhy wouldn’t do much to improve his standings with the four major boxing sanctioning bodies but the allure of a European title may be enough to tempt Dubois into taking up the challenge. The European title remains one of the few belts that Joshua hasn’t got his hands on during his glistening professional career.

He was given the opportunity to fight for the strap against Derek Chisora in 2016 but rejected the order so that he could land himself a shot at Charles Martin’s IBF belt instead. “Unfortunately Joshua did not accept to dispute the EBU title.” confirmed EBU General Secretary Enza Jacoponi at the time. “So the vacant title will be disputed between Derek Chisora and Kubrat Pulev.”

Joshua rejected the EBU belt for a shot at the IBF
Anthony Joshua rejected the opportunity to box for the EBU belt for a shot at the IBF title in 2016

AJ went on to win the world title from Martin in one of the most dominant showings of his career, stopping the American in the second round in front of a packed-out O2 Arena.

Meanwhile, Chisora was beaten over the distance by Pulev in Germany although Del Boy would exact his revenge six years later when he defeated his old foe on home soil. Chisora is now represented by Joshua’s 258 Management and is good friends with the Watford powerhouse.

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BOXING

Frank Warren offers Anthony Joshua alternative opponent after Deontay Wilder loss derailed mega-money fight

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Frank Warren wants to see Anthony Joshua take on Daniel Dubois following their respective wins during the Day of Reckoning on December 23.

In the main event, AJ rolled back the years as he ruthlessly stopped Otto Wallin in five rounds in Ridyah, Saudi Arabia to set himself up for a big year in 2024.

AJ took care of Wallin, but Wilder couldn't fulfil his end of the bargain
AJ took care of Wallin, but Wilder couldn’t fulfil his end of the bargain

Former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder was supposed to be his next opponent – the long-time rivals had already signed to fight each other.

However, ‘The Bronze Bomber’ suffered a shocking upset loss to Joseph Parker in the co-main event, and Joshua is now left scoping the heavyweight ranks for a big-name opponent.

Warren thinks Dubois would be the perfect dance partner for Joshua.

“For me, [Dubois] could fight any of those guys in the top 10. Even AJ would be a good fight. I’d watch that all day long,” the Hall of Fame boxing promoter told talkSPORT Breakfast on Wednesday.

Anthony Joshua dismantles Otto Wallin in Saudi Arabia | LiveScore

‘DDD’ bounced back from his KO defeat to Oleksandr Usyk by stopping previously unbeaten contender Jarrell Miller in the final seconds of their 10-round bout.

“I thought Daniel Dubois was brilliant,” Warren said.

“Absolutely magnificent. He proved to all his doubters that he does have heart in a tough, tough fight against a guy who is very good with his gamesmanship, was a tough, tough competitor and made him fight all the way.”

Many believed Dubois scored a legitimate knockdown when he fought Usyk in August, but the referee called it a low blow and the Englishman faced quitting claims after being counted out in round nine.

Dubois picked up the biggest win of his career in style
Dubois picked up the biggest win of his career in style

Warren added: “He needed a confidence booster.”

“That fight with Usyk, he gave Usyk his toughest fight. He hurt him to the body, and, for me, that was a legitimate punch, and the referee giving him more than four minutes to recover was ridiculous.

“That fight is gone, and he got a lot of stick afterwards about his desire, and whether he really wants to be at the top level.

“Well, he showed that he does because that was a tough fight. He had to dig deep. He had to grit his teeth, and he did all those things.”

Now, his promoter thinks he's ready to fight AJ
Now, his promoter thinks he’s ready to fight AJ

Joshua’s main goal is to become a three-time world heavyweight champion.

Filip Hrgovic, the IBF mandatory challenger, appears to be his quickest route back to glory and is the first name AJ mentioned during his post-fight press conference.

Dubois is certainly a more well-known opponent and could provide Joshua with the big payday he missed out on when Wilder suffered his third career defeat.

Only time will tell if Warren will be able to make the fight happen.

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