Anthony Joshua’s career may have stalled over the past few years, but the British heavyweight will soon have another chance to win a world title. Since his first defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021, AJ has struggled to get back to the top and some think he will retire early.
While talks are still ongoing about a long-awaited showdown with fellow Briton Tyson Fury, Joshua is now ready to face Daniel Dubois is fighting for the IBF title, but could this fight rank among Anthony Joshua’s best?
Date in Diary
IBF champion Dubois will fight Joshua at Wembley Stadium on September 21. The 26-year-old Briton was an interim titleholder, but was promoted to a permanent title when Usyk vacated the position earlier this year.
With 21 wins in 23 professional fights, Daniel Dubois will be a tough opponent, but Anthony Joshua is the favorite. Soon betting The market put AJ in the lead, while Dubois was considered an outsider.
AJ’s record shows 28 wins in 31 fights, but two of those losses have been recent. If he can prove his status as a contender, he will complete a remarkable comeback in a long career with some incredible fights.
2017: Joshua vs. Wladimir Klitschko
Anthony Joshua has a perfect record of 19 consecutive professional wins as he prepares to face Wladimir Klitschko, but this will be his toughest test to date. His opponent, a 41-year-old veteran, is defending a record of 64 wins and four losses.
Klitschko was the slight favourite, but the younger man emerged victorious, in a tense contest. Both men gave it their all, and many feel this was AJ’s most memorable fight. Ultimately, a flurry of punches saw Joshua claim victory by TKO in the eleventh round. The win saw him retain his IBF title, while also claiming the vacant WBA title.
2016: Anthony Joshua vs. Charles Martin
It is worth remembering the fight that helped Anthony Joshua win his first world title. On April 9, 2016, he faced the reigning IBF champion, American Charles Martin. Both men were undefeated, but Martin’s greater experience was arguably the deciding factor.
Joshua, at least, looked set for a tough night, but he stunned his opponent and the boxing world with a shocking knockdown in the second round. The defending champion was knocked down twice, and while some said Martin had put in a poor performance, AJ’s quality was the main factor.
2019: Joshua vs. Andy Ruiz Jr.
Anthony Joshua’s first professional defeat was a shock loss to Andy Ruiz in June 2019. The Mexican only agreed to fight as a last-minute replacement and entered the fight as an underdog.
AJ’s 100% record was gone, but thoughts quickly turned to the rematch. The two fighters stepped back into the ring on December 7, 2019. Joshua was still the favorite, but Ruiz’s previous performance had made the fight even.
The Brit fought smarter, staying away from his opponent’s dangerous punches. While there was no signature AJ knockdown, the discipline he showed in the unanimous decision made this one of his best fights.
2022: Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk 2
The first fight between these talented heavyweights would make this list, but the rematch was even better. In revenge, Joshua took Usyk to the mat, only to lose by split decision.
AJ’s stats were significantly improved from the original contest, and one judge scored the fight 115-113 in his favor. The fight was tense, but Usyk won the votes of the other two judges and regained his title by the narrowest of margins.
2018: Joshua vs. Alexander Povetkin
Anthony Joshua was at his peak when he took on Alexander Povetkin. The Russian is a former world champion and has never been stopped in his career. AJ was expected to have a tough night, but the Briton dominated from the first bell.
Povetkin hung on, but couldn’t make it through the seventh round, as a series of head shots sent him crashing to the mat. There are plenty of great fights on this list, but the 2018 contest with Povetkin showed Joshua at his most brutal.
While most pundits expect Anthony Joshua to regain his title at Wembley in September, some are predicting a reversal. Daniel Dubois’ former training partner Johnny Fisher has warned that the power of his punches could be AJ’s finishing blow.
At the very least, the upcoming fight could be a lot more intense than many think, so can Joshua vs Dubois be added to this list of incredible boxing matches?
