Daniel Dubois vs Anthony Joshua is the true Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn battle
Frank Warren may have white-washed Eddie Hearn in their battle of the stables in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.
But the veteran promoter can now really strike a blow to Hearn’s Matchroom if Daniel Dubois pulls off a mighty upset against Anthony Joshua at Wembley in September. That fight is now likely to be made by the Saudi backers financing the sport after Dubois stopped Filip Hrgovic and Deontay Wilder was brutally stopped by Zhilei Zhang in the 5v5 event.
Saudi boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh still harboured dreams – like many boxing fans – that Wilder could reignite his career and finally face Joshua in a battle that’s been brewing since 2018. Yet the American should be sailing off into retirement now after he looked a hesitant wreck before he was floored by Chinese veteran Zhang in the fifth.
READ MORE: Daniel Dubois has big message for Anthony Joshua ahead of Filip Hrgovic showdown in Saudi
READ MORE: Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn brought together by Saudi Arabia influence for unique event
A man who has resurrected his career in stark contrast to Wilder, is Londoner Dubois. He too was given chances in the Middle East, not only with huge pay days, but with bouts that could put him back on the map.
When he took a knee against Oleksandr Usyk last August, the memories returning of him wanting out against Joe Joyce earlier in his career brought back the questions about his heart and desire to be in this sport. But drug cheat Jarrell Miller was dealt with in December and this weekend he upset the much-fancied and unbeaten IBF mandatory Hrgovic after cuts forced the ringside doctor to advise the referee to stop the bout in the eighth round.
Who do you think would win if Daniel Dubois faces Anthony Joshua? Let us know in the comments section below
(Image: Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
Join the Daily Star’s WhatsApp for the sexiest headlines, showbiz gossip and lots more
The Daily Star is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join us!
Through the app, we’ll send you the sassiest showbiz stories, some naught headline and a seismic smattering of aliens…along with the latest breaking news of course.
To join our community, all you have to do to join is click on this link, select ‘Join Chat’ and you’re in!
No one will be able to see who has sign up and no one can send messages except for the Daily Star team. We also treat our community members to competitions, special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners.
If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Dubois claimed the trinket that is the ‘interim’ IBF title but while the belt may not be valuable, the position it puts him in is. Joshua needs a dance partner for a September 21 date which is booked at Wembley and harbours ambitions of being a world champion again.
The IBF are expected to strip Usyk of their title because he’s contracted to face Tyson Fury again and not his mandatory. So the frustration for fans that their rematch won’t be for the undisputed, brings opportunity for both Joshua and Dubois.
“He will be going into it as the interim champion so if the fight does happen then AJ will have to walk first,” said Warren. “I like the fight, I really do like the fight and whoever wins the fight, it’s a great fight for Britain, they’re two Brits and they’re both massive punchers.”
Warren is now on good terms with Hearn, so much so he will welcome Matchroom Boxing CEO Frank Smith to his offices to make tea as a forfeit for the outcome of the weekend’s 5v5. The defeat has been taken in jest. Dubois beating Joshua would not.
But for years he built Dubois’ reputation as the man who would one day bring down Joshua and strike a huge blow for Matchroom, who have been propped up by the Watford man’s huge earning power for a decade now. When Joyce stopped Dubois, it looked like it would be one Warren got wrong.
(Image: Gabriel Kuchta/Getty Images)
Even with Joshua stumbling against Andy Ruiz and then Usyk twice, Dubois seemed miles off him. But the performance against Hrgovic was impressive and catapulted the Londoner towards the top of the division. He had to overcome some tough early rounds when the Croatian looked like he was cruising.
But Hrgovic soon tired, blood flowed into both eyes and Dubois piled on the pressure to turn the bout and really fire up his career. Former two-time world champion Joshua will still be a huge favourite should contracts be signed in the coming weeks as expected but there’s enough intrigue to make it a sellable bout.
Both men possess power to turn a fight in an instant and both have enough vulnerability to make it edge of the seat stuff. With Wilder out of the picture, Usyk and Fury tied up in a rematch, it is the next best option for Joshua, who watched ringside in Riyadh as Dubois and Wilder went in very different directions.
“It’s a new beginning for me,” said Dubois. Warren will be hoping it is the dawn of a new era in September.
