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Preview: Daniel Dubois vs. Anthony Joshua, plus undercard

Sports Mole previews Saturday's IBF world heavyweight title fight between Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium on Saturday night.

The all-British showdown between Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua headlines a monster card at Wembley Stadium on Saturday evening.

Dubois' IBF world heavyweight title will be on the line as Joshua attempts to become a three-time world champion at a venue where he has enjoyed some of his most famous nights.

Here, Sports Mole takes a look at the highly-anticipated clash, as well as the fights that will precede the main event.


DANIEL DUBOIS VS. ANTHONY JOSHUA

Having lost to Joe Joyce, partially through a broken orbital bone, and appearing to wilt versus Oleksandr Usyk a little over 12 months ago, few could have predicted that Dubois would be in possession of the IBF title.

That is a result of the Londoner being elevated into the position through Usyk having to give up one of his four world titles from the win over Tyson Fury in May.

Nevertheless, do not let that fool you that holding the belt is undeserved, with the 27-year-old having defied his critics to overcome Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic in Saudi Arabia.

Both of his opponents would have fancied their chances of breaking him down, but it was Dubois who did that to them, withstanding difficult moments to ultimately batter each of them into submission.

Daniel Dubois in September 2024.© Imago

Most notably, his chin withstood many vicious right hands from Hrgovic in the opening two rounds of their bout in June, serving as a warning to Joshua that he should not expect everything his own way.

Under the guidance of Ben Davison, Joshua has enjoyed a renaissance of his own, emphatically stopping Otto Wallin and Francis Ngannou in a combined total of seven rounds.

Defeating Wallin was a systematic destruction before his opponent pulled out on his stool, where former UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou was ruthlessly put down three times in less than six minutes.

The highlight-reel knockout ultimately got the headlines, yet it was the composure of Joshua that should be most applauded. There have been no signs of the 2012 Olympic gold medallist wanting to get himself into fire-fights of late.

Whether that remains the case under the Wembley lights remains to be seen, especially against an opponent who has allegedly hurt him in sparring back in the day.


UNDERCARD

Turki Alalshikh - the Saudi Arabian adviser to Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren - has continued his habit of bankrolling undercards that feature fights that would be headline acts on other occasions.

One of those has since fallen through. Liam Smith no longer faces Josh Kelly due to a virus, the latter now going up against undefeated Ishmael Davis at 160lbs.

Anthony Cacace's IBF super-featherweight title will not be on the line against Josh Warrington, yet it threatens to steal the show with Cacace bidding to build on his shock win over Joe Cordina and Warrington looking to catapult himself back into the limelight.

Hamzah Sheeraz will be looking to enhance his reputation as one of the biggest prospects in world boxing when he fights Tyler Denny for the European middleweight title.

Joshua Buatsi's clash with Willy Hutchinson will be placed down the card, yet the battle for the WBO interim world light-heavyweight title should be a corker between two men who have a strong dislike for each other. The winner of that will be mandated to face either Artur Beterbiev or Dmitry Bivol further down the line.

Mark Chamberlain will also go up against Josh Padley in a lightweight contest eager to prevail on a Saudi-backed card for the third straight fight.


Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois in June 2024.© Imago

PREDICTIONS

You would struggle to find anyone who backs a points win for either Dubois or Joshua, and we go as far as predicting a finish within the first six rounds.

The danger that Dubois possesses could make this a tentative fight, with Joshua aware he cannot find himself on the end of a right hand of a fighter whose 20 of 21 wins have come via knockout.

Nevertheless, we are backing Joshua to get the job done. Dubois has the potential to unravel once hurt and if Joshua lands early, it could be the beginning of the end for the recently-crowned champion.

Elsewhere, Cacace and Sheeraz should be too strong for their respective opponents, the former perhaps winning an entertaining battle with Warrington on points and Sheerez dominated versus Denny.

Kelly may have to settle for a points win over new opponent Davis, with the same applying to Buatsi with Hutchinson's best chance through making their showdown dirty rather than technical.

Chamberlain will also be fancied to come through his fight in the mid-rounds, setting him up for a major fight at the turn of the year.


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Anthony Joshua, Liam Smith, Tyler Denny and Anthony Cacare at a press conference on June 26, 2024.
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