Anthony Joshua does not have any chance winning a rematch with Daniel Dubois if a second meeting between the heavyweight rivals is agreed.
That’s the verdict of Zhilei Zhang, a major contender amongst boxing’s big men, who’s eager to test himself against the division's biggest names.
Back in September, Dubois caused one of the biggest shocks of 2024 when he dropped Joshua four times before defeating his domestic rival in the fifth session.
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The victory saw Dubois retain his IBF title, but there’s been speculation since the win that he could be set to face Joshua in a second meeting in 2025.
That talk has been cooled in recent weeks by Dubois's promoter Frank Warren, whilst the IBF champion has been linked to bouts with other leading contenders, but a sequel with Joshua is still a possibility at some point.
“I genuinely rule out the possibility of AJ winning the rematch if it happens,” said Zhang when discussing the heavyweight landscape with AceOdds .
“Because I think what Daniel Dubois did to AJ in the first fight was not only physical but also mental. That thing is going to stay there. He's going to get traumatised. That's going to always be in the back of his head.”
