Anthony Joshua has been handed a 48-hour ultimatum to accept a February rematch with Daniel Dubois or lose the chance to reclaim his belts, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Dubois’ promoter Frank Warren is demanding an immediate response from Joshua, who suffered a shocking defeat to the 27-year-old at Wembley Stadium in September, where he was knocked down four times before his corner threw in the towel in the fifth round.
The fight, which drew 96,000 fans to Wembley, was initially scheduled for a rematch in Saudi Arabia next February, but Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn suggested the turnaround might be too quick for his fighter.
“Unless AJ gets back to us in the next 48 hours, yes,” Warren told iFLTV when asked if the rematch was “dead in the water.”
“I’d like to make an announcement tomorrow, if possible. But I don’t think we’ll be doing anything for the next week.”
Barry Hearn, father of Joshua’s promoter Eddie, believes the former champion could win a rematch with a different strategy but advises against rushing into the fight.
“I think Dubois is dangerous, and he’s going to be super confident after the last job. I still believe AJ would probably beat him in a rematch if he boxed differently, but that’s just my opinion,” the veteran promoter told The Mirror.
“More likely, a sensible person doesn’t rush anything. You take your time. But he’s his own man, and he’s going to make his own call.”
Joshua, who initially indicated his willingness for a 2025 rematch following the defeat, is now facing pressure to make a quick decision about his future.
Meanwhile, IBF President Caryl Peoples has confirmed that Dubois “can make an optional defence against any ranked fighter before April 22, 2025,” opening the possibility of a showdown with Fabio Wardley if Joshua declines the rematch offer.
The defeat to Dubois marked another setback in Joshua’s career, the Londoner’s fourth professional loss in front of his home crowd.
