Anthony Joshua has the chance to become a three-time heavyweight world champion on Saturday when Daniel Dubois puts his IBF belt on the line at Wembley Stadium in London.
Dubois, who defeated Filip Hrgović in June, was awarded the title after it was vacated by Oleksandr Usyk, who described it as his “gift” to Dubois and Joshua before their fight.
This contest pits two fighters at different stages of their careers against each other, with the tantalizing prospect of another title shot against Usyk or Tyson Fury looming.
Important details:
Date: Saturday 21 September. Ring walk scheduled for 10.30pm UK time.
Venue: Wembley Stadium
Title: Daniel Dubois' IBF heavyweight world title
The preliminary fights:
Tyler Denny vs. Hamzah Sheeraz for Denny's European middleweight title
Anthony Cacace vs. Josh Warrington for Cacace’s IBO junior lightweight world title
Joshua Buatsi vs. Willy Hutchinson for the vacant IBF interim light heavyweight title
Ishmael Davis vs. Josh Kelly, Middleweight (non-title fight)
Mark Chamberlain vs. Josh Padley, Lightweight (Non-Title Fight)
Where can I watch the fight between Joshua and Dubois?
The fight is available to buy on Sky Sports, TNT and DAZN in the UK and on DAZN in the US. Ring entry is scheduled for 10:30pm UK time (5:30pm ET).
ESPN will also have a live blog that evening.
What is it about?
The winner will likely not only win Dubois' IBF title, but will also face Fury or Usyk next year following their rematch on December 21 in Riyadh.
Rumours of a long-awaited fight between Joshua and Fury have been growing in recent weeks, but it will primarily focus on Dubois as the loser will once again be forced to fight his way back up the highly competitive heavyweight ranks.
Both Joshua and Dubois have already taken on Ukraine's Usyk in title fights, with Joshua losing first in September 2021 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and then in August 2022 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – both times by comfortable point decisions.
Dubois gave Usyk arguably the biggest scare of his flawless professional career in their fight in Wroclaw, Poland, when the Englishman knocked his opponent down in the fifth round with what was controversially ruled a low blow before the champion recovered in the ninth round to win by knockout.
Anthony Joshua knocked out Francis Ngannou in devastating fashion in March Richard Pelham/Getty Images
statistics
Statistics to track from ESPN's Statistics and Information group.
Key questions:
How will Dubois handle the big occasion?
Joshua, 34, has considerably more experience than Dubois, 27, so the bright lights of Wembley will be a real challenge for the younger man, who will need to be the centre of attention in fight week before competing in front of 96,000 fans at England's National Stadium.
By comparison, arguably the best night of Joshua's career was at Wembley in 2017, when he knocked out Wladimir Klitschko to become undisputed champion. Joshua has won all four of his fights at this stadium, three of them as a headliner, but the last of those fights came in December 2020 against Kubrat Pulev.
How aggressive will Joshua be against a better opponent?
Joshua made light work of Francis Ngannou in March, scoring a devastating knockout in Round 2 in Riyadh, despite many believing the former UFC heavyweight champion could potentially give him trouble, having knocked down Tyson Fury in his previous foray into the world of heavyweight boxing. That win followed Joshua's wild performance against Otto Wallin in December.
On both occasions, Joshua let his hands go and his opponents just couldn't get a grip on him. Dubois, a strong hitter in his own right, will be a class above. So will Joshua be more cautious? Or will he go full steam ahead from the start?
Latest news:
Anthony Joshua is the greatest British boxing star of all time – Eddie Hearn
According to Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn, British boxing will never again produce a star as bright as Anthony Joshua.
Daniel Dubois vows to defeat Anthony Joshua as “regicide”
Dubois has been vocal about his abilities in the run-up to the fight, saying he could be the “kingslayer” in his fight against Joshua.
Liam Gallagher to appear at Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois
Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher will perform as part of the Fight Night entertainment and there are rumors that his brother Noel could also make an appearance ahead of the band's reunion in 2025.
Oleksandr Usyk gives up IBF title before Joshua-Dubois fight
After becoming the first undisputed heavyweight world champion in nearly 25 years in May, Usyk gave up his IBF belt in what he described as his “gift” to Joshua and Dubois.
Is Dubois a real threat to Joshua?
Nick Parkinson takes a closer look at Dubois and the threat he could pose to his opponent.
96,000 spectators are expected at Wembley Stadium to watch Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois James Fearn/Getty Images
Form curve:
Joshua:
Win vs. Jermain Franklin (UD) April 1, 2023
Win vs. Robert Helenius (KO) Aug. 12, 2023
Win against Otto Wallin (TKO) Dec. 23, 2023
Win vs. 100% free. Francis Ngannou (KO) March 8
Dubois:
Win vs. Kevin Lerena (KO) Dec. 3, 2022
Loss vs. Oleksandr Usyk (KO) Aug. 26, 2023
Win vs. Jarrell Miller (KO) Dec. 23, 2023
Win vs. Filip Hrgović (TKO) Jun. 1, 2024
