Daniel Dubois put in the performance of his career against Anthony Joshua last month, legitimising his status as world heavyweight champion.
‘DDD’ was far too much for Joshua on fight night, dropping him three times before an emphatic knockout in the fifth. The win marked his first defence of the IBF belt. Talk has now turned to his next move and whether or not he will indulge ‘AJ’ in an immediate rematch.
Speaking to Seconds Out, Dubois – echoing recent words from his promoter Frank Warren that the second fight is ‘a no brainer’ – said that if Joshua wants it it will happen.
“The future is now what’s next? We’re making plans for what we’re gonna do now. I’ve heard AJ wants the rematch. We’ll see. If he wants it, I want it too. We came out on top on the night. I was the better man on the night but there’s no disrespect. I’m not gonna badmouth him or anything, it was a great fight and if we can do it again it’ll be even bigger.”
Asked what the ultimate goal was, the 27-year-old said he wants to collect all the heavyweight titles. As the other three major belts are tied up in the rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury, he feels another fight with Joshua is a good move.
“I’d love to become undisputed champion, collect all the belts and do it that way. Really reach the top of my game. I feel like I need to keep fighting the best. I fought the last three guys, some of the best in the world, so I need to keep that run going. I feel like the AJ rematch is a positive step. Just the way the fight was. It was exciting, everything the fans wanted to see. I’d be even better, even more up for it if we did it again.”
As for what he might do differently, Dubois believes he will be even more sharp and focused – a tough task after that career-best performance.
“Without giving too much away, I think I’d be more up for it. More belief in myself. I was up for it, but more controlled, more speed. Everything. AJ as well, he’ll bring it and come to win like he did last time but I just feel like it’s my time. Being a world champion, having the IBF belt, it’s just the icing on the cake. I need to keep this run going.”
Warren has confirmed Dubois will return to the ring in February of next year. A decision on the rematch, which now looks like it solely lies on Joshua’s team, could be made as early as this week.
