Daniel Dubois has vowed to “demolish” Anthony Joshua if they face off for the IBF title.
Dubois stopped Filip Hrgovic in the eighth round in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night, with Hrgovic suffering cuts above both eyes.
The victory earned Dubois the interim IBF belt, and the 26-year-old could be promoted to full world champion if Oleksandr Usyk vacates the title following his rematch with Tyson Fury on December 21.
Dubois, who could also fight Joshua for the vacant title, commented on the potential matchup: “That’s what I’ve been hearing [that Joshua could be next], so let’s see.”
“[Being world champion] is a dream. From challenging for the world title to getting the chance to win the damn thing outright, that’s what I want.”
“I’ll demolish Joshua. I’ll get even better from here.”
Joshua: I have to pick off rivals one by one
Joshua, discussing the prospect of facing Dubois or Zhilei Zhang, who knocked out Deontay Wilder in the fifth round this weekend, said: “I’ve got to pick them off one by one.”
“It’s not going to be easy, but that’s my mentality. So come one, come all…
“[Dubois] has been in tougher fights, so he becomes hardened. He has worked his way up the ladder; we’ll see what happens in the near future.
“Wembley, O2, York Hall – wherever they put me, I’m happy to fight. Any venue, I’ll turn up and do my job.”
Reflecting on Wilder’s defeat and future in the sport, Joshua added: “If he wants to come back, he can, but he has a family and a life outside of boxing.
“If he wants to try again, he should. But eventually, Father Time catches up with everyone.”
