British heavyweight prospect Daniel Dubois (8-0, 8 KOs) is backing WBC heavyweight world champion Deontay Wilder to beat WBA, IBF, IBO and WBO champion Anthony Joshua - if the two unbeaten punchers link up in the coming months.
There are ongoing negotiations to make that contest happen in the fall. The two sides have agreed on the majority of the terms - including the contest taking place in the UK.
“I’d favour Wilder. It’s equally risky for both of them but I favour Wilder,” Dubois said to Boxing News.
However, at the moment it appears that Joshua may go in another direction.
Dubois, regarded by many as a future threat at the weight class, is very familiar with Joshua. The two have sparred in the past, with rumors that Dubois badly hurt the British star and put him down in camp. Joshua has not denied those rumors.
Joshua seems to be heading on a path to facing WBA mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin in September - and then Wilder in the first quarter of 2019.
Because of the danger involved, and the amount of money that Joshua generates, Dubois does not blame him for heading in another direction.
“Personally I don’t blame him for going for an easy option. Take on someone else, someone that’s less of a threat. Wilder is a very dangerous fighter,” Dubois, said.
“He [Wilder] is a big, serious threat for AJ losing the titles. That’s money. Money gone. Money he could earn otherwise, fighting different opposition.”
Dubois was in action on Saturday night, when he blasted out Tom Little to capture the English title.
Wilder has been away since March, when he knocked out undefeated challenger Luis Ortiz in the tenth round. If Joshua decides to fight Povetkin, then Wilder will likely face his mandatory challenger Dominic Breazeale, who only lost at the hands of Joshua.