Anthony Joshua challenges Daniel Dubois for his heavyweight world title tonight with Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk set to be ringside
Tyson Fury has predicted a knockout tonight as Anthony Joshua challenges world champion Daniel Dubois at Wembley – but sat on the fence as to the winner.
Joshua will attempt to become a three-time champion when he takes on Dubois in front of 96,000 fans tonight – and will join a select group of five fighters to have achieved the same feat; Muhammad Ali, Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, Vitali Klitschko and Michael Moorer.
And Fury, who is preparing for his Christmas rematch with Oleksandr Usyk, does not expect tonight’s showdown to go the full 12 rounds. “I think it’s a tough fight for both fighters, they’re going to knock lumps out of each other and it could go either way,” he said.
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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.
“It’s not a foregone conclusion; they’re both heavy punchers and could knock each other out. I’m looking forward to the fight. The real winners are the ones who come and watch people punch the f*** out of each other.
“I’m going as a fan and don’t have any percentages for either man; whoever wins, wins. I’m sure it’s going to be an entertaining fight as long as it lasts, if there’s not a knockout either way I’ll be disappointed. The occasion might get to Daniel, you don’t know what role the crowd might play in a fight but in my experience, in a boxing fight you’re in there and it’s a fight, and it’s on like Donkey Kong.”
On Friday, Dubois tipped the scales at a career-high 17st 10lbs for the first defence of his IBF crown. Dubois registered 3lbs heavier than for his most recent victory, an eighth-round stoppage on cuts of Croatian Filip Hrgovic in June, while Joshua tipped the scales 4lbs heavier at 18st.
The weigh-in was overseen by ring announcer Michael Buffer with a sizeable crowd in attendance at London’s Trafalgar Square, although there were no fireworks from the British rivals.
“It’s time to get into the ring and fight. Lets go. I’ve been working hard. A lot of work and training has gone into this and I’m ready to go. A win, by any means necessary,” Dubois said.
Joshua, who also weighed 18st for his brutal demolition of Francis Ngannou in March, promised to put on a show for the 96,000 sell-out crowd. “I look at myself as a gladiator. I’m pumped and ready to perform for the people. I’m not smelling any roses yet, just blood. Fresh blood,” he said.
