Daniel Dubois, who described himself as the boxer who ensured the irrelevance of Anthony Joshua in the boxing world, urged the media to focus on the achievement of those winning, not the potential return of the defeated.
Recall that Dubois subjected Joshua to an embarrassing defeat in September as he knocked him out in the fifth round after knocking AJ down twice in the bout.
Following the unexpected defeat, some critics of AJ urged him to retire from the game, but his promoter, Eddie Hearn, has stressed that his client is not done yet. Joshua has also stressed that his time in the sport is not over despite suffering four defeats in the last four years.
In recent weeks, there have been persistent talks about the possibility of Joshua and Dubois having a rematch but AJ’s camp is reportedly delaying it to give room for his full recovery.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Dubois commented on Joshua’s current absence from the ring, mentioning that he hopes to see him back soon after their clash.
“I feel like people are still focused on AJ, but I wonder where he is at the moment. I really hope he’s doing okay,” Dubois said.
“There seems to be a lot of talk around AJ’s return, and I believe it’s time to celebrate the accomplishments of new champions like myself,” Dubois remarked. He acknowledged the emotional impact of his victory but urged fans to shift their perspective.”
With Joshua’s postponed return affecting potential plans for a rematch, Dubois is set to defend his IBF title against Joseph Parker on February 22.
Having overcome previous defeats to Joe Joyce and Oleksandr Usyk, Dubois is looking forward to what lies ahead in his career. He expressed his desire to take on the winner of the upcoming Usyk-Tyson Fury rematch, stating, “I’m eager to compete for the undisputed title. My journey has had its challenges, but I am ready to make my mark in boxing history as a new champion.”