DANIEL DUBOIS wants to embarrass Anthony Joshua when he faces the former unified heavyweight champion on September 21 at Wembley Stadium.
Two British heavyweights headline the Riyadh Season with two world title fights. One is Anthony Cacace making his first defence of the IBF super featherweight title against Josh Warrington. The other is the first defence of Dubois, who puts his newly-won IBF heavyweight title on the line against the man who won it against Dominic Breazeale eight years ago.
Dubois is a man in form having beaten Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic in back-to-back fights. The win over Filip Hrgovic earned ‘Dynamite’ Dan the interim IBF title but he was eventually elevated to full champion status when undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk relinquished the belt.
Meanwhile, Joshua has defeated Otto Wallin and rookie boxer Francis Ngannou in his last two fights.
“His recent fights are not on the same level as guys like Miller, the tough guy ‘Big Baby’ Miller and Hrgovic. Look at his two opponents and look at me. Let’s go, let’s fight,” Dubois told Queensberry.
Joshua was still a significant step up for Dubois, 26, who has also fought Joe Joyce and Usyk, albeit in defeat. The concern for the young Briton stemmed from the heavy right hand he took against Hrgovic. However, Dubois overcame the chaos and knocked out the big Croatian in the eighth round.
Dubois was asked if he was capable of taking such blows from Joshua, who has heavier hands.
“Hrgovic is completely different to AJ,” Dubois replied.
“The way he [Hrgovic] throwing his shots, it was smooth, he was light and fast and he didn’t reload or anything. It took me a while to get the hang of it but once I figured out how to deal with it – if you look at the fight the right way, I slipped in nicely and did what I had to do to win and that’s what I’m going to have to do again. Break AJ, break what’s in front of me and win by any means necessary.
Dubois was also asked what will happen on the night of September 14 at Wembley Stadium.
“I’m not here to say stupid things but I want to make a fool of AJ by taking him down and putting all the doubters and critics to sleep,” he replied.
