There are now just hours to go until a historic all-British battle between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois.
This intriguing fight pits two big punchers against one another for Dubois’ IBF World Heavyweight Title at Wembley Stadium. Both men have shown great power but also vulnerability on their way to the top in recent years.
Joshua was long celebrated as top dog before an upset loss to Andy Ruiz Jr derailed him in 2019. He got back on track with a rematch victory the same year but then twice failed to solve the puzzle that is two-weight undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk.
Usyk also got the better of Dubois last August. That fight ended with Dubois being put down off a jab and unable to beat the count.
Now, after three straight knockout wins for Joshua and solid stoppage victories over Jarrell Miller and Fillip Hrgovic in ‘DDD’s last two outings, the pair put it all on the line on Saturday.
Former WBO Champion and ‘AJ’ opponent Joseph Parker is in attendance, and gave DAZN his prediction at the open workouts during fight week.
“I feel like Joshua in the first five or six rounds, he’s looked very dangerous in his last fights. I feel [if] Dubois [wins it will be] late rounds, he showed a great chin against Filip Hrgovic and great determination – and that power in the late rounds. He’s a live underdog and he’s got a lot to prove.”
He then spoke of Joshua’s mix of power and boxing smarts.
“Joshua has the power in the right hand but he can also box. When I fought him he was able to nullify what I was doing. Joshua has a lot more power than Hrgovic. I feel like if he lands like Hrgovic landed, Joshua will stop him. But if Dubois lands clean, he will test AJ’s chin – and can AJ then show the grit and determination to come back and win after being hurt?”
Parker himself would love a shot at the winner for another world title and well deserves it having beaten Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang in his last two fights, although a more likely scenario is a rematch with ‘Big Bang.’
