Is AJ Looking Beyond Fury?

According to AJ's long-time promoter, Eddie Hearn, AJ wants a chance to settle the score against the current WBO heavyweight champion, Daniel Dubois in 2027.

Dubois spectacularly knocked out AJ in 2024 after dominating the fight from the opening bell. Joshua was heavily floored by a right hand in round 1 and never managed to recover.

He did however have a moment of success in round 5, when he caught Daniel with his own right hand. DDD's legs buckled and he retreated towards the ropes. But even though he'd been hurt, he stayed calm and kept his eyes on the target. He threw a perfectly-timed right hand, just as AJ was launching a lead uppercut. AJ crashed face-first to the canvas in his most humiliating defeat ever.

Apart from that brief moment in round 5, the fight was so one-sided that no-one has suggested there should be a rematch. I've never heard AJ ask for one either.

So I find it interesting that AJ is reportedly considering one now. According to Hearn, Joshua is mindful of the fact that he's rematched every man to have beaten him except Dubois. AJ avenged his loss to Andy Ruiz Jr and pushed Usyk to a split decision in their rematch, although he still came away the loser.

Simply getting into the ring with Dubois would be an incredible achievement, because it would mean that AJ would have beaten Tyson Fury. AJ is a big underdog in that fight, and is regarded by many to be shot to pieces.

But of course, someone with Joshua's massive power will always have a puncher's chance.  But does he have any more than that?

Well I think it's possible that he does. It's often been observed that Joshua has confidence issues. His mind didn't seem right coming into either the Ruiz Jr or the Dubois fight. If he can enter the Fury fight with his mind in the right place, then perhaps he can find a way to upset the odds?

AJ seems to be a changed man following the tragic car crash that took the lives of two of his dearest friends. It was something of a miracle that he walked out of that wreck alive. After staring death in the face, what fear does a boxing match hold in comparison?

In his comeback fight against Kristian Prenga, we witnessed a miracle in the ring, when AJ came back from what looked like certain defeat to score a second round knockout. 

If Joshua were to beat Fury, he would lift the vacant WBA title and acquire the rare distinction of becoming a three-time heavyweight champion. He would then bring that belt into the ring for a unification with Daniel Dubois.

AJ's close friend and conqueror, Oleksandr Usyk predicted that AJ would become undisputed in 2027. For a man who's been totally written-off, that really would be a story for the ages.