Antony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois rematch: Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh ends speculation with planned date for clash
THE proposed date for the Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois rematch has been revealed.
Dubois, 27, stunned AJ at Wembley last month.
His monster right hand emphatically downed the Watford man in the fifth round.
And that ensured he kept hold of his IBF world title and wrecked Joshua’s dream of a spring blockbuster showdown with Tyson Fury.
But AJ looks set to get a shot at revenge with a repeat of the all-British dust-up next year.
And Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh told fans to mark their calendars because there is a provisional date in the diary for the rematch.
He revealed at the controversial Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol fight night that the plan is for Joshua vs Dubois 2 to take place on February 22, 2025.
The date is only tentatively pencilled in at this stage.
The other thing yet to be decided is the location.
Wembley hosted the initial bout but many expect the second version to be held in the Saudi desert.
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Four of AJ’s 32 fights have been in Saudi Arabia – including his rematches with Andy Ruiz Jr and Oleksandr Usyk.
Dubois, meanwhile, beat both Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.
When previously discussing the Joshua vs Dubois rematch, AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn said: “I think it would be part of Riyadh Season in Riyadh. Riyadh Season runs from October to end of February, early March.
“So anything within that period takes place in Riyadh. So yeah, it would be part of Riyadh Season if it were to happen.”
There was a suggestion that the rematch could be pushed back after the IBF ordered a fight between Agit Kabayel and Martin Bakole to decide who will become the heavyweight challenger to Dubois.
The fighters were told this week to make their availability known in the coming days, and there is even a chance the bout could take place before the end of the year.
However, it seems the IBF could sanction the AJ-Dubois rematch before ordering Dubois to face his mandatory challenger.
Dynamite Dan, meanwhile, will be keeping a close eye on the Usyk vs Fury rematch in December – knowing he could battle to be undisputed heavyweight champ next year.