Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois are on collision course to meet in another all-British heavyweight showdown after the latter’s thrilling victory over Filip Hrgovic.
Dubois, 26, turned in a career-best performance to stop Hrgovic on Saturday’s Matchroom vs Queensbury card in Saudi Arabia.
Dubois mauled Hrgovic in a blistering eighth round with the ringside doctor advising the referee to halt the fight due to cuts over both of the Croatian’s eyes. The victory saw the south Londoner clinch the interim IBF title.
Oleksandr Usyk holds the ‘full’ IBF title after his victory over Tyson Fury last month but could be forced to vacate the belt after his rematch with ‘The Gypsy King’ was confirmed for December.
In that event, Dubois could be upgraded to full world champion. But there is also the possibility of the vacant belt being on the line against Joshua, with that fight now a compelling possibility.
‘AJ’ was ringside on Saturday night to watch Dubois get a huge win, with his old rival Deontay Wilder also suffering a stunning defeat to Chinese heavyweight Zhilei Zhang.
Both Dubois and Zhang are possible opponents for Joshua with the two-time heavyweight champion set to return to Wembley Stadium on 21 September for his next fight.
And Dubois has welcomed a showdown with his fellow Briton.
‘I heard Anthony Joshua is next,’ Dubois said. ‘I hope the next opponent would be AJ so bring it on. This is my era and this is my time.’
Joshua meanwhile has welcomed fights with both Dubois and Zhang but talked up a potential meeting with his fellow Briton.
‘I’ve got to pick them off one by one,’ Joshua said. ‘It’s not going to be easy, but that’s my mentality. So come one, come all.
‘Wembley, O2, York Hall – wherever they put me, I’m happy to fight. Any venue, I’ll turn up and do my job.
‘He’s [Dubois] been in tougher fights, so he becomes hardened. He’s worked his way up the ladder, so we’ll see what happens in the near future.’
Dubois suffered his first career defeat against Joe Joyce back in November 2020, a loss where he saw his heart questioned after taking a knee in the 10th round.
Those doubts grew again after his defeat to Oleksandr Usyk last August but ‘Triple D’ has gone some way in dismissing concerns over his will in the ring with a hard-fought win over Jarrell Miller in December and Saturday’s triumph over the previously undefeated Hrgovic.