FABIO WARDLEY has emerged as a potential challenger to Daniel Dubois’ world title – as a rematch with Anthony Joshua faces collapse.
AJ was dropped FOUR times on the way to a brutal fifth-round knockout defeat at Wembley in September.
And he was expected to rematch Dubois in a bid for revenge – already eyed for February in Saudi Arabia.
But his promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed the quick five month turnaround looks to be too close – leaving the rematch facing the KO.
It leaves Dubois looking elsewhere for a challenger – and Wardley could be one for the future.
Their promoter Frank Warren told Sky Sports: “He won’t get the fight next, we never even discussed that. Fabio would like it, I’m sure.
“But we’re in discussions at the moment with a couple of people [to fight Dubois].
“Fabio needs to fight somebody in the top 10 now and do what he’s capable of doing and showing the world what he’s all about
“To really establish himself in that top 10, there are some good fights there, great matches to be made in the next year for him.”
Wardley, 29, is coming off a brutal first-round knockout in his rematch with Frazer Clarke, 33, to retain his British and Commonwealth titles.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
And he is ranked within the top 15 in the world after improving to 18 wins with 17 KOs – leaving Warren teasing a future Wembey bout with Dubois.
He said: “We can build that into being a mega, mega fight that will fill the likes of Wembley with two big punchers like that.
“That’s what we’ve got to work towards. In the mean time for Daniel, we’re quite near to announcing something in the next week or so.
“That will be a big fight for him in February.”
Dubois, 27, inherited the IBF belt after being elevated from interim champ when Oleksandr Usyk, 37, vacated his title.
Usyk did so to proceed with his December 21 rematch with Tyson Fury, 36, following victory in May.
And Joshua, 35, could await the result of Fury’s rematch instead of rematching Dubois next.
Warren added: “We had waited to give AJ his opportunity because he said he wanted the rematch but that’s not transpired, that’s not working out so we are where we are.
“I can’t see next time being any different to be quite honest, how I see the fight. I think he’s got his number.
“I felt very strongly when we made the fight it was the perfect fight for Daniel and that’s how it turned out to be.
“He’ll feel even better going into a second fight after such a one-sided fight as it was.”
