Tony Bellew believes Daniel Dubois should grant Joseph Parker an opportunity to face him, if Anthony Joshua opts against an immediate rematch.
Both Bellew and Parker were ringside at Wembley Stadium as Dubois retained his IBF heavyweight world title with an emphatic fifth round knockout of Joshua, in front of a record attendance of over 98,000 spectators.
Though ‘Dynamite’ is not contractually obligated to hand ‘AJ’ a rematch, the pair may well meet again, with Joshua having one fight remaining with Riyadh Season, who organised Saturday’s spectacle.
The Watford man’s promoter, Eddie Hearn insists the 34-year-old should wait to on the outcome of the rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury on December 21, before making a decision.
Should ‘AJ’ indeed decide against avenging the fourth defeat of his professional career, former cruiserweight world champion, Bellew is keen to see Parker receive a shot.
The New Zealander has shot himself back into contention with back-to-back victories over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang.
“If Anthony Joshua doesn’t take an immediate rematch,” the 41-year-old explained to Instant Casino.
“I think there’s only one person in the world of boxing who deserves that shot at Daniel Dubois, and I think that’s Joseph Parker.
“Nobody in the heavyweight division has taken the people on that Joseph Parker has, nobody.
“Joseph Parker has faced two bogeymen who no one wants to go near back-to-back.
“He fought Deontay Wilder and literally beat him up. And then he went in with Zhilei Zhang against all the doubters.
“Listen, I thought he’d lose twice.
“I told him that, I was working with him on Saturday.”
In the post-fight press conference, Joshua insisted his career was not over, despite arguably the most devastating defeat of his career and he confirmed that he would continue in a social media post on Monday.
“What a rollercoaster journey, but you know what the problem is, it’s far from over yet,” he said.
“We’ve done it once, we’ve done it twice and doing it a third time hasn’t been easy bit it’s something I can achieve, it’s about making the right steps forward, working hard and improving.
— Anthony Joshua (@anthonyjoshua) September 23, 2024
“It’s got to come from the heart more than anything.
“It can’t come from any external voices or influences, it’s got to come form the heart.”
