Joseph Parker is ready to jump in and challenge Daniel Dubois next, according to his trainer Andy Lee.

Dubois currently reigns as the IBF heavyweight world champion and is riding high after knocking out Anthony Joshua in September.

Dubois knocked Joshua out in round fiveGetty

It was expected that AJ would push for an immediate rematch next, with a date already named for sequel to take place atop the final show of the current ‘Riyadh Season’ on February 22.

However, it now seems as though this could come too soon for Joshua.

His promoter Eddie Hearn told the BBC this week: “AJ desperately wants revenge but the only issue is timing.

“For the rematch to happen in February, training camp will have to start in a couple of weeks.

“There are always niggles and he had a few so physically it’s just a case of whether AJ is ready to do that.”

Joshua may instead wait for the outcome of Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury‘s rematch on December 21.

“It would be frustrating if we made the Dubois rematch and Fury won [vs Oleksandr Usyk],” Hearn added.

“Then we’re sitting there going, ‘Hang on a minute, we’re fighting Dubois but we could have fought Fury in May for the biggest fight in boxing.’

“Win or lose, we can fight Fury next summer. But if he wins, AJ fights him for the world title.”

In this scenario, Dubois will now be looking for a new challenger on February 22.

Parker regularly trains with Furyhttps://www.instagram.com/joeboxerparker/

Responding to a post put out on social media on Tuesday, Parker’s trainer Andy Lee simply wrote: “Parker is ready.”

Parker is a former WBO heavyweight world champion himself, but been unable to recapture the crown since being dethroned by Joshua six years ago.

In that time, he has suffered defeats to the likes of Dillian Whyte and Joe Joyce, but recently bounced back with impressive wins over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang, seemingly re-establishing himself as the top heavyweight contender.

Parker is trained by Lee, who is Tyson Fury’s cousin and assistant coach.

Fury put that pairing together due to his friendship with Parker.

The pair spar regularly and have vowed never to face each other.

Asked last year if he would ever entertain a fight with Parker, Fury, who was the WBC heavyweight champion at the time, replied: “Definitely not.

“No. I’d rather give him the belt than fight him for it.

“We’re too close for that fight and there’s plenty of heavyweights out there.

“He doesn’t need to fight me, I don’t want to get beat up, sorry!”