Daniel Dubois will defend his heavyweight world title for the first time on Saturday night when he takes on Anthony Joshua in front of 96,000 fans at Wembley
Anthony Joshua will have a slight weight advantage over Daniel Dubois on Saturday night after the rivals stepped on the scales.
Joshua weighed in at 252.5lb compared to Dubois’ 248.6lb in front of hundreds of fans in London’s Trafalgar Square. The two rivals then faced off for the final time before Dubois puts his heavyweight world title on the line in front of 96,000 fans at Wembley this weekend.
Speaking from the stage, Joshua said: “That’s the energy. Just want to say a massive thank you to you guys sticking with me thick and thin. And if i can ask one favour, go home and pray for me that I will become a three-time heavyweight champion of the world.
“I’m pumped and I’m ready to perform for the people.”
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Anthony Joshua will take on Daniel Dubois at Wembley on September 21 with the fight being broadcast on DAZN pay-per-view. DAZN is the home of all the major fights from the boxing world and this sold-out event will now be available to watch worldwide on the service, with a purchase bagging you a DAZN seven-day free trial.
Earlier this week, Joshua admitted he is out for revenge after Dubois got the better of their sparring session eight years ago. “He cracked me with a great shot and it’s my chance to get him back on Saturday. I’m looking forward to it. We sparred hundreds of rounds,” Joshua said.
“I’m not dependent on punch power. It takes a lot more than that to be a greater fighter. There are various ways to win. I want to break him down with my spirit. I’m tough, so is he. We have some similarities. I’ve shown him and his team respect by having a good camp. May the best man win.”
Dubois, meanwhile, wants to drag Joshua back to the “dark place” he was in after his second defeat by Oleksandr Usyk two years ago. Joshua was outpointed by the Ukrainian for the second time and threw the champion’s belts out of the ring before storming back to his dressing room.
And Dubois vowed: “I need to take him back to that dark place and make him uncomfortable in there, make him break down in the ring. That’s what I plan to do. He’s right for the taking now. I’m on the rise, I’ve got the momentum on my side. No more words – just fighting, punches. I’m ready to fight and destroy.”
Dubois has been forced to heal his own ring-induced trauma after taking a knee against Joe Joyce in 2020, a decision that saw him labelled a quitter even though he had sustained a fractured left eye socket. For some, further reputational damage was done when the 27-year-old Londoner was also counted out in the ninth round after being floored with a jab by Usyk last year.
But, like Joshua, he has rebuilt with hard-fought victories over Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic before securing the IBF belt when Usyk vacated in June in order to set-up a rematch with Tyson Fury. “The last two fights were my redemption. This is about planting a flag – moving forward as a world champion. I’m just a hungry young lion right now. I’m there to take the respect, you know. In boxing there’s no respect and I’m ready take it, retain my belt and still be world champion.”
