Frank Warren has confirmed that Queensberry Promotions are now looking at alternative opponents for Daniel Dubois’ next fight.
‘Triple D’ was expected to rematch Anthony Joshua next after blasting him out inside five rounds in September.
In the days that followed the crushing defeat, AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed that talks were underway and moving in a positive direction.
However, negotiations have now come to an abrupt halt due to Joshua and Dubois’s uncoordinated timelines.
According to AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn, his client is still nursing some ‘niggles’ from their inaugural encounter and will need time to recover.
Meanwhile, Dubois is targeting a return to the ring on February 22, which Hearn is concerned will be too tight of a turnaround for the Watford powerhouse.
Hearn held out hope for the fight being pushed back to a date that benefits both men.
But Warren wants Dubois to stay active and so is moving on from the rematch for the time being.
“I don’t see that happening next,” Warren said of Dubois vs Joshua II to BoxNation.
“We are looking at a couple of things at the moment and we will make a decision.
“I was hoping we would get it done fairly quickly but we won’t. I was hoping to get it done last week and this week.
“So sometime next week we are going to be in a position where we can close on something and we are talking to a few other guys…
“I’m hearing that he [Joshua] is injured. Whatever it is, if things are going to happen they happen and it has taken a while so you’ve got to feel it won’t happen.
“Unless I get a phone call saying it is on. But we have got to make some decisions and with the greatest respect to everyone we are in the Daniel Dubois business.
“He is the one that matters for me… I want him out on that date and he wants to be out [February 22].
IBF president Daryl Peoples confirmed earlier this week that Dubois can make an optional defence against any ranked fighter before April 22′, leaving the door open for a domestic dustup with Wardley.
The Ipswich puncher knocked out Frazer Clarke earlier this month to defend his British heavyweight title and is currently ranked No.12 by the IBF.
Dubois recently came on talkSPORT and welcomed a fight with his Queensberry stablemate but Warren expects them to meet further down the line.
“I don’t see that happening next,” Warren added. “Fabio will fight anyone, he is a fighting man, this is a man who comes from an unlicensed background.
“You’ve seen what he is all about. He goes in there and he gives everything.
“For me, that fight could be built into something mega there is no doubt about that.”
Another possibility that has been floated around is a clash with Joseph Parker.
The Kiwi isn’t currently ranked in the IBF top 15 due to his WBO ‘interim’ champion status but Warren likes the fight.
“I like most of the fights for him and that is one of them,” Warren said of a possible bout with Parker.
“But we will see we are not going to be rushed into anything and we will look where we are and what to consider and then make a considered choice.
“But it has got to be something that suits everybody that is involved and more importantly something that suits Daniel because he is the champion.”
