By: Sean Crose
All of this may be old news for Anthony Joshua, but for Daniel Dubois it is certainly big news – with Wembley Stadium sold out for the two men’s IBF heavyweight title fight on September 21. While former world champion Joshua may sell out Wembley once a month, Dubois finds himself in a truly British big-money fight. While this will be Joshua’s fifth appearance at Wembley, it is only the second time Dubois has slipped off the ropes at the famous stadium. The only other time was in 2019 when he stopped Richard Harrison in close range.
Joshua, on the other hand, has beaten none other than Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley, along with Kubrat Pulev, Alexander Povetkin and Matt Legg. However, Joshua is a certified star of the sport, while Dubois is the epitome of a hungry contender. Having lost only to Oleksandr Usyk and Joe Joyce, Dubois – who, like Joshua, is a Londoner – has beaten Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic respectively in his last two fights. Both men were unbeaten before stepping into the ring with Dubois. In other words, while Joshua is likely to enter the ring as the betting favourite in September, this fight is by no means a guaranteed victory for the towering Brit.
“I just want to be the best,” Sports in the sky Dubois was quoted as saying, “to fight the best and beat the best. AJ has been the king for a long time, and we all know that, so on that night, I needed to be a kingslayer.” As for Joshua, the man is clearly aware that, although he is (still) a huge draw in the sport, Dubois is no joke. “I know this game,” Joshua said (via Sports in the sky) We are all in the wild. We are a pack of lions and hunters.” Joshua added that he is focused on the September fight. “That’s next,” he said. “I’ve been thinking about Dubois for a while.”
Although both fighters have suffered defeats (Joshua lost to Andy Ruiz, who he beat in the rematch, as well as Usyk, who knocked him out twice), each has shown that he can successfully bounce back from adversity. “I have improved as a fighter and an athlete overall,” Dubois said. “I am really ready for this and ready to fight.” Joshua no doubt feels the same way, which is certainly part of the reason why the vast Wembley Stadium was sold out for this fight.
