By Robert Segal – 10/06/2024 – Commentary
Promoter Eddie Hearn says Anthony Joshua’s potential rematch with IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois could take place in Riyadh. He says it will be part of Riyadh Season, which means it will be in Riyadh.
UK fans will be upset about Joshua fighting the rematch in Saudi Arabia rather than England, but it makes no difference to Americans. They just want to see Joshua try to avenge the loss because it’s a bad look on his part to move on to face Tyson Fury next.
That move would make Joshua appear fearful and greedy at the same time. If Joshua were to swing Dubois out to face a bigger threat than him, that would be more palatable to fans. But maneuvering Dubois around to fight the 36-year-old Fury would look bad. Fury is seen as washed up by many boxing fans and is expected to lose his rematch against Oleksandr Usyk on December 21.
Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) will decide in the next two weeks whether he will fight Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs) again or someone else. Hearn says it will be a decision he, the team and Joshua will make jointly.
Considering how AJ looked in that fight, it’s inconceivable that Hearn and the team would gamble on a rematch. Joshua looked out of place with Dubois, and one could see that his chances of winning a rematch would be slim.
“I think it will be part of the Riyadh season in Riyadh,” said Eddie Hearn Fight Hub TV when asked where the Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois Rematch would take place. “It will be in Riyadh if it happens.”
Considering Joshua lost to Dubois in London last September, fighting the rematch in Riyadh is a good thing for him. Joshua may perform better fighting in Saudi Arabia than he would in front of his fans in England.
Last updated on 10/06/2024
