Anthony Joshua dealt blow in title hopes as Daniel Dubois looks to muscle in by calling out rival

10 months ago 58

DANIEL DUBOIS has called to fight Filip Hrgovic – in what could prove to be a blow for Anthony Joshua.

Hrgovic is the current IBF mandatory challenger for the belt held by Oleksandr Usyk and set to be defended against Tyson Fury.

Daniel Dubois has called out Filip Hrgovic[/caption]

Hrgovic was being lined to fight Anthony Joshua[/caption]

But Usyk, 37, and Fury, 35, are contracted to a two-bout deal which all-but promises a rematch.

So Hrgovic, 31, could instead be given the chance to fight for the interim belt.

After Fury suffered a cut in sparring his undisputed title decider with Usyk was postponed from February 17 to May 18.

So Joshua -previously lined up to face the winner – has since been touted to fight Hrgovic instead.

But now Dubois has called out the Croatian after posting a clip smashing the heavy bag in training.

He said: “Hrgovic, I’m the daddy. I heard you’ve been calling out everyone else’s name but I can’t hear my name. Are you ready? I’m ready.”

Joshua, 34, returns on March 8 against ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannou, 37, who controversially lost to Fury in October.

And the winner was in line to then challenge the victor between Fury and Usyk.

But their two-fight deal looks set to rule them out from facing anybody else this year.

So Saudi’s boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh revealed talks could start between Joshua and Hrgovic.

He said on The MMA Hour: “I’ll tell you what is in my mind. If Ngannou win then he will have a rematch against the champion.

“If Joshua win and the way of the winner of Tyson/Usyk, it will be long time because they will have rematch.

“We are thinking and discussing with Joshua camp and Hrgovic camp to maybe have a fight between them. ‌

“I guarantee Usyk and he has my word, of two more big fights.”

Joshua returns on March 8 against Francis Ngannou[/caption]