In a dramatic shake-up for the heavyweight division, Anthony Joshua has been dealt a crushing blow by the World Boxing Organization. The two-time world champion has been unceremoniously dumped from the WBO's coveted top 15 rankings, a direct consequence of Daniel Dubois's sensational victory over Filip Hrgovic.
The official update, confirmed on the WBO's website, sees Joshua's name conspicuously absent from the list of contenders. This seismic shift in the pecking order places Dubois in the prime position to challenge the winner of the upcoming undisputed title clash between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury.
Dubois Destroys Hrgovic, Reshapes Title Picture
Daniel Dubois catapulted himself to the forefront of the heavyweight scene with a breathtaking eighth-round stoppage of the previously undefeated Filip Hrgovic. This career-defining win in Riyadh not only earned him the interim IBF title but also fundamentally altered the landscape for his domestic rival, Joshua.
With this victory, 'Dynamite' Dubois has positioned himself as the mandatory challenger for the victor of the Usyk-Fury rematch, scheduled for December 21st. This leaves Joshua's path back to a world title shot looking increasingly complicated.
Joshua's Future Hangs in the Balance
This ranking demotion represents a significant setback for AJ, who had been meticulously rebuilding his career with four consecutive wins. His future plans, which many believed were leading to a showdown with the winner of Usyk-Fury, are now thrown into disarray.
Promoter Eddie Hearn had previously suggested a potential blockbuster fight between Joshua and Dubois at the iconic Wembley Stadium this September. However, this new WBO mandate for Dubois makes that marquee British clash highly unlikely in the immediate future, forcing a major rethink of Joshua's strategy.
