Eddie Hearn opens door to Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury despite heavyweight’s brutal KO defeat to Daniel Dubois
Anthony Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn has insisted a showdown with Tyson Fury can still happen.
The pair seemed destined to meet in 2025 providing Joshua defeated Daniel Dubois in front of a record crowd, but he was brutally beaten, being knocked down four times en route to a devastating and stunning defeat.
Fury was ringside to watch the event, and will likely now be expected to pursue alternative options if he beats Oleksandr Usyk in their huge sequel on December 21.
But Matchroom Boxing promoter Hearn is still of the opinion that the fight could happen, and expects AJ to fight against despite a smattering of retirement calls.
"We have another fight with Riyadh Season and HE Turki Alalshikh - Dubois is part of that plan, but so could be Fury or another heavyweight," Hearn suggested.
"We fancied winning tonight and facing the winner of Usyk vs Fury, now we may end up fighting the loser of that fight if it's Fury."
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Hearn also went on to add Joshua could end up rematching Dubois as he has access to a contracted clause.
He continued: "I'm sure he'll [Anthony Joshua] exercise that rematch clause, that's a given.
"He'll need a rest but it's a dangerous fight, this guy's growing in confidence all the time but he'll believe he can hurt Dubois.
"He'll believe he can beat him but full credit to Daniel Dubois, he deserves all the credit tonight."
Fury was ringside and will no doubt have been stunned with what unfolded in the ring.
Joshua simply did not recover after being crushed to the canvas by a punch in the opening round.
He was dropped twice more before being sent to the canvas for the final time in the fifth round with an incredible punch which ranks as a KO of the year contender.
A showdown with the 'Gypsy King' now looks further away than ever, with the pair having come so close to meeting in the past.
It is a rivalry which has gripped British boxing despite a fight never materialising, although a contract was famously signed in 2021.
But Fury was forced to forego the clash and accept a trilogy with Deontay Wilder and fans missed out.
“It could have been me. In the heavyweight division, it’s what happens.
“What went wrong is what always happens in heavyweight boxing. A good right hand on the end of the chin, and that was it.
“I don’t know. It’s up to the man and whatever he wants to do. If he has good ambitions to come back again, he can make his own decisions. He’s a big boy.
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“I thought it was a 50-50 fight. Dubois is a lot younger. He’s 27-years-old. Joshua is 35, the same age as me [Joshua is 34, Fury is 36]. Age doesn’t wait for anybody.
"You get hit with those punches [and] you don’t see many heavyweights get hit, get knocked down, get back up, and continue on.”