Frank Warren, Dubois’ promoter, is insisting on an immediate reply from Joshua, who faced a surprising defeat against the 27-year-old at Wembley Stadium in September, where he was knocked down four times before his corner stopped the fight in the fifth round.
The bout, which attracted 96,000 spectators to Wembley, was originally planned for a rematch in Saudi Arabia next February. However, Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, indicated that the timeline may be too tight for his fighter.
“Unless AJ responds to us within the next 48 hours, yes,” Warren stated to iFLTV when asked if the rematch was effectively off the table.
I would like to announce something tomorrow, if feasible. However, I believe we won't be taking any action for the upcoming week.
Barry Hearn, the father of Joshua’s promoter Eddie, is of the opinion that the former champion could secure a victory in a rematch with a revised approach, but he cautions against hurrying into the bout.
“Dubois poses a significant threat, and he will be extremely confident following his last performance. I still think AJ could potentially defeat him in a rematch if he changes his boxing strategy, but that’s merely my perspective,” the seasoned promoter shared with The Mirror.
“Generally, a prudent individual wouldn’t rush into anything. It’s important to take your time. However, he is his own person and will make his own decisions.”
Joshua, who had previously expressed interest in a rematch in 2025 after his loss, is now under pressure to quickly determine his next steps.
In the meantime, IBF President Caryl Peoples has stated that Dubois “is eligible to make an optional defense against any ranked fighter before April 22, 2025,” which could lead to a potential match with Fabio Wardley if Joshua opts out of the rematch.
The loss to Dubois represented yet another hurdle in Joshua’s career, marking his fourth professional defeat in front of his home audience.