Boxing promoter, Frank Warren has confirmed that Daniel Dubois has no contractual obligation to grant Nigerian-British Boxer, Anthony Joshua a rematch.
Dubois claimed the IBF interim heavyweight title with a stunning knockout victory over Filip Hrgovic last June. This earned him a highly anticipated showdown with two-time heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium three months later.
Despite being the favorite, Joshua was stunned on fight night. Dubois knocked him down four times before securing a fifth-round knockout to retain his title.
The absence of a rematch clause in their contract was a surprising revelation, confirmed by Warren in an interview with Seconds Out. “There was no rematch clause,” Warren said. He emphasized that while the door remains open for a potential rematch, Dubois is under no contractual obligation to agree to it.
“If Joshua wants it, he can have it,” Warren added, “but there was no contractual agreement for that fight.”
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, previously revealed that an injury prevented the former champion from returning to the ring sooner. “AJ wanted to fight in February,” Hearn said, “but his medical team advised against it due to ongoing issues from his training camp and the previous fight. He’ll need to wait until May or June to fully recover.”
For now, Joshua is focusing on his recovery while Dubois is gearing up to defend his IBF title against Joseph Parker in Riyadh next month. Reflecting on the possibility of a rematch, Dubois told talkSPORT, “As a fighter, I’d love to settle things with Joshua, but for now, I’m focused on defending my belt. Who knows what the future holds?”
Though a rematch isn’t yet confirmed, both fighters have expressed interest in revisiting their rivalry at a later date.
