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Tuesday, September 24, 2024

Heavyweights seek upper hand before Wembley showdown

Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois will trade words at a press conference today, two days before their all-British title fight at Wembley Stadium.

Joshua, 34, will challenge Dubois for the IBF heavyweight title on Saturday (21 September), bidding to become a three-time world champion.

Since losing the unified belts to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and failing to regain them in 2022, “AJ” has been near-perfect: outpointing Jermaine Franklin then stopping Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin and Francis Ngannou.

Meanwhile, Dubois bounced back from his own loss to Usyk – a stoppage defeat last August – with TKOs of Jarrell Miller in December and Filip Hrgovic in June. The latter result won Dubois, 27, the interim IBF title – which was upgraded when Usyk vacated the official belt.

And so the IBF title is on the line at Wembley this weekend, but before then, Joshua and Dubois will make their final statements at today’s press conference. Follow live updates from the Joshua vs Dubois press conference, below.

Joshua vs Dubois press conference LIVE

  • Anthony Joshua fights Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium on Saturday

  • ‘AJ’ challenges his fellow Briton for the IBF heavyweight title

  • Heavyweights speak at pre-fight press conference today

  • Steve Bunce: Inside the Saudis’ role in Joshua vs Dubois

Joshua vs Dubois press conference LIVE: What happened behind the scenes last time?

15:11 , Alex Pattle

Today’s press conference is the second between Joshua and Dubois, who also shared a stage in June.

On the day of their first press conference, Joshua and Dubois also conducted a joint interview, in which AJ threatened to “put a chair across” his opponent’s “f***ing face”.

More on that here…

Heavyweights seek upper hand before Wembley showdownHeavyweights seek upper hand before Wembley showdown

Anthony Joshua threatens to ‘put chair’ across Daniel Dubois’ face in tense moment

Joshua vs Dubois press conference LIVE: Saudi boxing revolution continues… at Wembley, of all places

14:55 , Alex Pattle

It has cost a billion dollars, taken just 11 months, and this Saturday in front of 96,000, the boxing revolution will continue at Wembley Stadium.

Last October, a boxing ring appeared from a depth of 26ft inside a black hole in the middle of the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, the Saudi Arabian capital: the new capital of boxing. The ring was for Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou; the best two men in their respective sports, boxing and mixed martial arts. It was the launch of the boxing revolution.

Earlier that night, outside the giant building, six other fights took place, including a British title fight. It was the start, and two months later – in the shadow of Christmas – it was Anthony Joshua’s turn to fight in the same ring. On that night, as many as five of the eight bouts would have been main events on any given Saturday night in the UK.

This Saturday, Joshua attempts to join an elite club and win the heavyweight championship for the third time, when he fights Daniel Dubois for the IBF heavyweight title at Wembley Stadium; there are five planned fights on the undercard, and three are legitimate main-event attractions. A fight fell out of bed a few days ago, one that would have also been a main event on any other night.

Steve Bunce looks at the Saudis’ role in Joshua vs Dubois:

Saudi Arabia’s boxing revolution continues… at Wembley, of all places

Joshua vs Dubois press conference LIVE: Is this fight the final chapter in a cautionary tale?

14:38 , Alex Pattle

In his complicated career, Anthony Joshua has headlined numerous stadium shows, the majority of them on the strength of his own name, brand and legacy. In fact, the only exceptions were arguably his victory over Wladimir Klitschko and first defeat by Oleksandr Usyk – both of which were seismic sporting events all around. So, what about Saturday’s headline contest: an IBF heavyweight title fight with Daniel Dubois?

In fairness, this bout probably belongs in the latter camp. It is true that Dubois, 27, is not yet in a position where he can fill stadiums regardless of his opponent, as “AJ” first did at the same age. But his reputation is as strong as it has ever been, and Joshua himself is resurgent.

And so Joshua will fight in stadium for the first time since his first clash with Usyk, in 2021, while Dubois does so for the second time in his career, having made his debut in such a venue last August – against Usyk, no less.

Is Joshua vs Dubois the final chapter in a cautionary tale?

Joshua vs Dubois press conference LIVE

14:19 , Alex Pattle

Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois will trade words at a press conference today, two days before their all-British title fight at Wembley Stadium.

Joshua, 34, will challenge Dubois for the IBF heavyweight title on Saturday (21 September), bidding to become a three-time world champion.

Since losing the unified belts to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and failing to regain them in 2022, “AJ” has been near-perfect: outpointing Jermaine Franklin then stopping Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin and Francis Ngannou.

Meanwhile, Dubois bounced back from his own loss to Usyk – a stoppage defeat last August – with TKOs of Jarrell Miller in December and Filip Hrgovic in June. The latter result won Dubois, 27, the interim IBF title – which was upgraded when Usyk vacated the official belt.

And so the IBF title is on the line at Wembley this weekend, but before then, Joshua and Dubois will make their final statements at today’s press conference.

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