Sport

Eddie Hearn Says Anthony Joshua Has ‘Exciting’ Opponent Lined Up, Despite Recent KO Loss.

Despite suffering a catastrophic knockout loss to Daniel Dubois, Eddie Hearn has maintained that Anthony Joshua is prepared for another high-profile bout.

Joshua was a resounding favorite going into his matchup with Dubois last month after winning four straight.

Eddie Hearn has claimed Anthony Joshua is ready to step back in to another world title fight

The bout, which took place in front of a record-breaking 96,000 spectators at Wembley, gave the 35-year-old the chance to become one of the select few fighters to have won the heavyweight title three times.

However, Dubois dropped Joshua multiple times before securing the knockout to become the IBF champion, stopping him for the second time in his professional career in the fifth round.

Despite the loss, Hearn maintained that AJ is prepared to face Dubois again or even face Tyson Fury in a long-awaited bout.

Joshua suffered the fourth loss of his career when he was knocked out by Daniel Dubois last month

But Hearn insisted his fighter has no interest in a warm-up fight as he looks towards a return

‘It’s weird saying it after a knockout defeat but AJ is actually in a really good position,’ Hearn told BBC Sport.

‘We’re going to fight Dubois or Fury next. That’s it. No other interest or warm-up.’

Reports following the fight suggested Joshua would activate his rematch clause, with a potential date of February in Saudi Arabia.

While Queensberry boss Frank Warren has claimed that Dubois will likely make the first defence of his belt on that date regardless of opponent Hearn admitted ‘timing’ could prove to be an issue in making the rematch.

He added:  ‘AJ desperately wants revenge but the only issue is timing.’

‘For the rematch to happen in February, training camp will have to start in a couple of weeks. There are always niggles and he had a few so physically it’s just a case of whether AJ is ready to do that.’

The result of The Gypsy King’s rematch with Oleksandr Usyk in December may potentially determine if AJ and Fury face again.

Hearn seemed to suggest that if Fury can exact revenge for his first career loss to the Ukrainian in their rematch, he would prefer a bout with Fury over Joshua.

The Matchroom head added Joshua’s next opponent could be contingent on the rematch between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk

Should Fury emerge victorious, Hearn indicated that a long-awaited clash between the Gypsy King and AJ would be targeted for May of next year

‘It would be frustrating if we made the Dubois rematch and Fury won,’ Hearn said.

‘Then we’re sitting there going “hang on a minute, we’re fighting Dubois but we could have fought Fury in May for the biggest fight in boxing.”

‘Win or lose, we can fight Fury next summer. But if he wins, AJ fights him for the world title.’

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