The anticipation builds for Anthony Joshua’s upcoming showdown with Daniel Dubois for the IBF heavyweight world championship, with many top fighters weighing in on the contest.
Joshua, eyeing a comeback after two losses to Oleksandr Usyk and a cautious win against Jermaine Franklin, appears to be in formidable form. He has notched three consecutive stoppage victories over Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin, and Francis Ngannou. Joshua aims to maintain this momentum when he faces Dubois at Wembley Stadium on September 21, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
Opinions among boxing insiders lean toward Joshua reclaiming the title he once held. Tyler Denny, the European champion, remarked, “If I had to pick, I’d go with Joshua. Both fighters have the power to knock each other out, making it an intriguing matchup.” Former world champions Liam Smith and Josh Warrington echoed similar sentiments.
Smith noted, “Confidence-wise and results-wise, Joshua is on great form. His style suits him more than Dubois.” Warrington added, “Both are big punchers, but I’m leaning toward AJ. He has that air of confidence and still retains that demon look in his eye.”
However, Dubois should not be underestimated. He has only lost twice, with defeats to Usyk and Joe Joyce. Recently, he secured two impressive victories, winning the IBF Interim title before it was upgraded to a world championship. Kevin Lerena, who fought Dubois in 2022, believes Dubois presents a serious challenge for Joshua.
Lerena stated, “Yes, he lost to Usyk, but look at what he’s done to [Jarrell] Miller and [Filip] Hrgovic in his last two fights. He has sky-high confidence and is a serious heavyweight now. His strength and punching power are notable and echoed by those who have sparred with him.”
He added, “It’s a tough fight for both guys. The prediction becomes tough because the winner will be the one who wants it the most on the night.”
As the fight approaches, excitement is palpable, with both heavyweight contenders looking to prove themselves in this pivotal matchup.
Credit: Sky Sports
