Dubois delivered a statement performance against Joshua when the two British heavyweights collided two years ago, halting “AJ” in sensational fashion during a successful first defense of his IBF heavyweight world title. In the immediate aftermath of that high-profile defeat, Joshua loudly campaigned for an immediate rematch, eager to redeem himself on the global stage. However, those plans were ultimately derailed when a lingering injury forced Joshua to the sidelines, keeping him out of competitive action and forcing both fighters to take divergent paths through the upper echelons of the division.
Since that memorable night, the landscape of the heavyweight division has shifted dramatically. Dubois experienced the bittersweet realities of elite boxing when he subsequently lost his belt to unified master Oleksandr Usyk, but the resilient puncher quickly rebounded to cement his elite status. He proved his championship mettle once more by dethroning Fabio Wardley back in May, before emphatically removing any lingering doubts about his supremacy with a devastating two-round destruction of Wardley in their high-stakes rematch on Saturday night.
That latest explosive victory has propelled "DDD" back into the upper tier of the sport, making him a central figure in the ongoing race for undisputed and unified glory. Dubois is now actively on the hunt for world title unifications, and within the current landscape of British and international boxing, none would carry more magnitude or mainstream appeal than a massive showdown against the victor of the upcoming clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Those two enduring giants of the modern era are scheduled to battle for the prestigious WBA (Super) heavyweight crown at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff this December, a fixture that promises to bring the entire sporting world to a standstill.
Speaking candidly in a recent interview with iFL TV, Dubois stated without hesitation that he would love to face the winner of that long-awaited grudge match when the dust settles in the Welsh capital. Yet, when pressed on his specific preferences between the two aging icons, the reigning champion admitted that he would personally favor a clash with “The Gypsy King” over a second encounter with Anthony Joshua.
Reflecting on his ambitions for the immediate future, Dubois made his intentions crystal clear to the boxing public, telling iFL TV that he will happily take on the winner of the December showdown all day long, while singling out Fury as his preferred opponent of the two.
The timing could scarcely be more aligned for the hard-charging champion. Rumors are already swirling within the boxing industry that Dubois is targeting a high-profile return to the ring in February, a timeline that could perfectly position him for a lucrative world title unification bout. Such a path might pit him directly against WBC titleholder Agit Kabayel, who is scheduled to face Nelson Hysa in Dusseldorf, Germany, next month. As Kabayel looks to defend his own standing in the division, Dubois continues to survey the landscape from the summit of the sport, ready to take on all comers as he defines a new era for heavyweight boxing.
