In a recent interview, Eddie Hearn had commented on the possibility that Anthony Joshua would not seek an immediate rematch with Daniel Dubois, and instead eyed the winner of Fury Usyk 2. This discussion, originally published on October 24, 2024, has since been dramatically overtaken by events in the heavyweight division, including a shocking upset and a series of title changes that have reshaped the landscape of boxing’s premier weight class.
There had been much anticipation around a potentially stacked card of boxing on February 22nd, 2025, with many believing Anthony Joshua would headline in a rematch against Daniel Dubois. This was after AJ lost to Dubois in devastating fashion, suffering four knockdowns and the first true knockout of his career.
The Shocking Upset: Dubois Dethrones Joshua
The fight between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois indeed took place, but not as a rematch. Instead, it was a highly anticipated clash for the IBF heavyweight title on September 21, 2024, at Wembley Stadium in London. Daniel Dubois, who had secured the IBF interim title by stopping Filip Hrgovic in the 8th round on June 1, 2024, in Riyadh, was elevated to full IBF champion on June 26, 2024, after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the belt.
In front of a record-breaking British boxing crowd of 96,000 spectators, Dubois delivered a career-defining performance. Despite being the betting underdog, “Dynamite” Dubois dominated Joshua from the opening bell. He knocked Joshua down in the first round with a powerful overhand right, sending shockwaves through Wembley. The onslaught continued, with Joshua suffering further knockdowns in the third and fourth rounds. The brutal end came in the fifth round when Dubois landed two shattering right hands, leaving Joshua a crumpled figure on the canvas and unable to beat the referee’s count. This marked Joshua’s fourth professional loss, bringing his record to 28-4 at the time. Dubois, with this sensational knockout victory, retained his IBF world heavyweight title.
Hearn’s Initial Hesitation and the Fury-Usyk Saga
Prior to the Joshua-Dubois fight, Eddie Hearn had revealed that Joshua might not be ready in time for a February 2025 date for a rematch with Dubois. He stated, ‘AJ wants revenge but the only issue is timing. For the rematch to happen in February, training camp will have to start in a couple of weeks. There are always niggles and he had a few so physically it’s just a case of whether AJ is ready to do that…’ This sentiment was further driven by the potential for a mega-fight with Tyson Fury. Hearn continued, ‘It would be frustrating if we made the Dubois rematch and Fury won. Then we’re sitting there going, ‘Hang on a minute, we’re fighting Dubois but we could have fought Fury in May for the biggest fight in boxing.”’
The highly anticipated undisputed heavyweight title fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, initially referenced as “Fury Usyk 2” in the original article, had its first encounter on May 18, 2024. In that historic bout, Usyk defeated Fury by split decision, becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champion in 24 years. A rematch between Fury and Usyk then took place on December 21, 2024, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Oleksandr Usyk once again emerged victorious, this time by unanimous decision, retaining his unified heavyweight titles and solidifying his dominance in the division. Following this second loss to Usyk, Tyson Fury announced his retirement from boxing on January 13, 2025. However, “The Gypsy King” later returned to the ring, fighting Arslanbek Makhmudov on April 11, 2026, and securing a unanimous decision victory, bringing his current record to 35-2-1.
The February 22nd Card and Subsequent Heavyweight Shifts
The February 22nd, 2025, card, which Hearn had alluded to, did indeed happen, but not with Joshua or Dubois headlining. Dubbed ‘The Last Crescendo’, the event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was headlined by the undisputed light heavyweight title rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol. Daniel Dubois was initially slated to defend his IBF heavyweight title against Joseph Parker on this card, but he withdrew due to illness and was replaced by Martin Bakole.
The heavyweight division continued its dramatic twists. Following his stunning victory over Anthony Joshua, Daniel Dubois faced Oleksandr Usyk on July 19, 2025, at Wembley Stadium. In another significant bout, Usyk defeated Dubois by knockout in the 5th round, winning the IBF title and successfully defending his WBA (Super), WBC, WBO, and The Ring titles, thereby becoming a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion. This loss brought Dubois’s record to 21-3.
The Current Heavyweight Landscape
Anthony Joshua, after his loss to Dubois, expressed his desire to continue fighting and rejected retirement, having one more fight under contract with Riyadh Season. He has since returned to the ring, most recently defeating Jake Paul by knockout in the 6th round on December 19, 2025, bringing his current professional record to 29-4 with 26 KOs.
Daniel Dubois has also continued his career with impressive momentum. After his loss to Usyk, Dubois secured the WBO World Heavyweight Championship by defeating Fabio Wardley via technical knockout in the 11th round on May 9, 2026. His current professional record stands at 23 wins (22 by KO) and 3 losses.
The heavyweight division remains dynamic, with Oleksandr Usyk reigning as a unified champion and a two-time undisputed champion. Daniel Dubois has re-established himself as a major player, now holding the WBO title. Anthony Joshua continues his pursuit of a third world heavyweight championship, with a potential clash against Tyson Fury still a highly anticipated prospect in British boxing, despite Fury’s previous retirement and recent return. The landscape has shifted considerably since Hearn’s initial comments, proving that in boxing, the only constant is change.
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