By Declan Taylor
ANTHONY JOSHUA will open the door for back-to-back Tyson Fury fights in 2025 with a win in opposition to Daniel Dubois.
That’s the prediction from his promoter Eddie Hearn who additionally believes that the two-time world heavyweight champion will not be feeling the stress as a result of he has ‘misplaced the worry of shedding’.
London pair Joshua and Dubois meet at Wembley Stadium on September 21 with the potential of a record-breaking 96,000 crowd in attendance.
Joshua is the challenger for Dubois’ IBF world heavyweight title however, having misplaced the belts to each Andy Ruiz and Oleksandr Usyk through the course of his profession, one other defeat right here in opposition to the 26-year-old is unthinkable.
Hearn has instructed that AJ may solely have one other 18 months within the sport, however a win at Wembley will guarantee not solely that 2025 is essentially the most profitable 12 months of his profession but but additionally his most high-profile one too.
Fury is ready to face Usyk of their world heavyweight rematch in Riyadh on December 21 however, no matter that outcome, Hearn reckons the long-awaited Battle of Britain will happen subsequent if Joshua can win within the Saudi-sponsored card this month.
The Matchroom boss stated: “What number of extra fights does Joshua have left within the UK? It relies upon if he retains successful. If he wins on September twenty first, I consider he’ll battle Tyson Fury, win or lose in opposition to Usyk. However Joshua can even need to battle Usyk for undisputed, that’s at all times been his dream.
“The beauty of September twenty first is Turki [Al-Alshikh] will go searching at Wembley and simply go ‘wow’. He will likely be dying to do one other one. In a great world, and that is nothing I’ve mentioned with him [Turki], AJ wins, Fury wins, two fights subsequent 12 months for undisputed – one in Riyadh, one at Wembley. However once more, that’s simply my hope, no indication from Turki.
“You’ve seen his keenness to do exhibits all over the world and I believe he’s going to like Wembley.
“If AJ will get an electrical knockout then it’s all eyes on Fury-Usyk and the momentum from an AJ win in model would take him into an enormous 2025 which, funnily sufficient, may very well be the defining second of his profession.”
On condition that two fights in opposition to Fury dangle within the steadiness, there’s a lot driving on a Joshua victory on September 21 however Hearn is adamant that the 34-year-old has the expertise to deal with it.
He added: “The vibe that I get is the worry of shedding isn’t actually there anymore. Due to the Ruiz and Usyk defeats, since you’ve skilled it earlier than, you’ve been there and understand how a lot it hurts. We don’t take a look at this battle and say ‘the stress is on as a result of if you happen to lose to Dubois what may occur’. We’re simply excited for the battle.
“I believe it’s a very powerful and harmful battle. Will probably be attention-grabbing to see what Dubois does and if he can deal with the stress. I do know he boxed Usyk in Poland however that is going to be a second that’s going to make his knees knock.
“It is advisable to haven’t only a huge set of bollocks however it’s important to have a very sturdy thoughts to compose your self in these sort of moments. I believe it would make him battle extra erratically which once more is a hazard. However regardless of the recreation plan is, I believe he’ll battle to undertake it. I don’t suppose he can have a cool head which could make it a shootout. It’s a really, very harmful battle.
“However there isn’t a worry of shedding, he takes on all challenges and this one simply occurs to have a world title hooked up to it.”
Joshua is on a scorching streak of three straight knockouts after stopping Roberto Helenius, Otto Wallin and Francis Ngannou. It’s clear his link-up with new coach Ben Davison has been successful to this point and Hearn believes September 21 will present additional proof that Harlow is the suitable place for the London 2012 Olympic champion.
Hearn stated: “There was a interval after I was going within the altering rooms, significantly across the Usyk, Franklin and even Helenius fights, the place I used to be watching him hit pads and it simply was not likely flowing or clicking.
“Then I went within the altering rooms half an hour earlier than the Wallin battle and I although ‘fuck me, I’ve by no means seen something like this’. All the things that Ben was engaged on, you may see AJ getting every little thing. He had full belief in Ben and Lee Wylie that the gameplan was completely excellent.
“When he absolutely will get the gameplan and when it’s absolutely drilled we predict he’s unbeatable. And that’s how we really feel in the intervening time. We really feel that every little thing we’re seeing within the coaching camp is precisely what’s going to occur on September twenty first.
“With all due respect to Dubois, he makes errors and he’s not a tough fighter to work out. He’s very sturdy, can punch and he’s bodily an issue. While you analyse a fighter like that it’s not laborious for the minds of Ben Davison and Lee Wylie to determine the gameplan.”
