Eddie Hearn, the promoter for heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, has confirmed that Wembley Stadium will not host a potential rematch between Joshua and Daniel Dubois. This announcement follows Joshua’s shocking fifth-round knockout loss to Dubois in their recent IBF world heavyweight title bout.
Despite Joshua’s desire for an immediate rematch, Hearn indicated that a return to the iconic London venue is unlikely. The clash last month attracted a record-breaking post-war boxing crowd of over 98,000 fans, but Joshua has never fought consecutive bouts at Wembley, and that trend appears set to continue.
In an interview with Fight Hub TV, Hearn hinted that the rematch is more likely to take place in Saudi Arabia, particularly as part of the Riyadh Season, which runs from October to early March. “I think it would be part of Riyadh Season in Riyadh,” he stated, emphasizing the venue’s significance for high-profile events.
Hearn noted that while there is enthusiasm from Saudi officials, particularly His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, to host the rematch in February, no decision has been made yet. “The big decision now is—do we take the rematch?” he said, highlighting the complexities involved in arranging the fight.
Joshua’s track record suggests he favors rematches, as seen in his quick returns to the ring against Andy Ruiz and Oleksandr Usyk. However, with the current uncertainty surrounding the next steps, fans will have to wait to see if Joshua and Dubois will meet again in the ring.
