Queensbury promoter Frank Warren has revealed he is close to announcing IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois's next opponent, with a fight set for February.
The world is desperate to see the Brit in action again after this astonishing performance and brutal knockout of Anthony Joshua at a sold out out Wembley in September .
Warren, whose Queensbury Promotions has signed an exclusive broadcast deal with DAZN from April 2025, told talkSPORT: "We are working on a deal and getting it over the line. We are close and I am sure we will do that. But until contracts are signed we can't say anything.
"Daniel's next fight will be a very big one for him. He's now captured everyone's imagation and everyone wants to see him fight again.
The likes of Joseph Parker, Fabio Wardley and Martin Bakole have been touted as opponents, with AJ still hopeful of a rematch at some point in the future.
Warren added: "Daniel's next opponent will be against someone of a Joseph Parker standing. It will be someone coming in as a winning fighter, at Daniel's level and in form. It will be a great fight for Daniel.
"Joe Parker's name is on the list and that is the level of quality and form we are looking at."
Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
On Congolese fighter Martin Bakole, Warren is open to a future bout, saying: "He has to fight Agit Kabayel next, so if he beats him then he will be in the mix I'm sure. That fight has been ordered by the IBF, that's the belt Daniel holds, so it could be an option."
However Joshua's chances of stepping in the ring again with his former sparring partner any time soon look remote, with Dubois free to fight who he wants for the next six months.
"People forget Daniel's fight with AJ was his mandatory fight to defend his belt. Having done that and won he is now allowed up until April to fight who he wants.
"So we can take who we want in a February fight. The IBF are quite strict on mandatory challengers and now there will be other names at the top of their list for that ahead of Joshua.
"So AJ is out of the picture as a mandatory challenger. He will be out of the picture for a long while."
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