Anthony Joshua ‘set for September showdown against Daniel Dubois at Wembley’… after Deontay Wilder blows his chance to set up long-awaited clash with the British boxer

Anthony Joshua is set to step back into the ring in September and will now likely face Daniel Dubois, according to reports. 

The British fighter had for some time been in the runninng to face Deontay Wilder, 38, but after the American boxer suffered his second successive defeat to Zhilei Zhang on Friday night, it appears Joshua will look to face a new opponent. 

According to The Sun, Dubois, who claimed a stoppage victory against Filip Hrgovic in a brutal heavyweight clash on Saturday night has now emerged as the Brit’s next challenger. 

Wilder’s promoter Shelly Finkel had said that his fighter was finally hoping to settle his beef with Joshua in the ring and had ‘hoped’ that an offer over a potential bout could have been made, had the American bested Zhang during Queensberry and Matchroom’s 5v5 event on Saturday. 

There was talk that Saudi Arabian boxing chief Turki Alalshikh was keen to set up the fight, but it seems that Wilder – who was beaten by Joseph Parker in December – may have missed his chance after Zhang knocked Wilder out in the fifth round of their bout on Saturday. 

Asked whether he was sad to see the former WBC heavyweight champion suffer defeat, Joshua said: ‘No.’

Questions are now mounting over the Bronze Bomber’s future in the sport, despite vowing in an exclusive interview to Mail Sport that he wanted to become savage again. 

Dubois, 26, meanwhle, delivered a beating to Hrgovic during the 5v5 event to extend his professional record to 26-2-0. 

While he was bested by current undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk in August last year, the British fighter, who hails from London, has impressed in his last two fights, notably defeating Jarrell Millar via a technical knockout in December. 

The Sun also claims that ahead of a potential showdown with Joshua, Alalshikh will be in contact with the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan over plans to hose the huge matchup at Wembley. 

The outlet claims that the Saudi boxing executive wants to smash the previous attendance record at the stadium for a boxing match (94,000), set when Tyson Fury and Dillian Whyte met in the ring back in 2022.

Dubois admitted he was keen to face Joshua after Saturday’s fight, stating to TNT Sports: ‘I hope the next opponent would be AJ so bring it on. This is my era and this is my time.’

On his victory against Hrgovic, he added: ‘I have full respect for the guy, to come through that was a learning experience,’ he added. ‘I’m glad I got the belt and on to the next. I was a bit cold to start off with, I had the corner advice, Frank Warren and my dad.

‘I ate some shots but it was only to wake me up. The first few shots stung but they woke me up. I’m so proud of myself. It is all a learning experience. We are back on top. It has felt like a rollercoaster.’