S Poddar
Daniel Dubois has set his sights on becoming the “king slayer” as he prepares to face Anthony Joshua for the IBF heavyweight title on September 21 at Wembley Stadium.
This eagerly anticipated bout follows Oleksandr Usyk’s decision to vacate the IBF title. Usyk, who recently made history by holding the IBF, WBO, WBA, and WBC belts after defeating Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia, was required by the IBF to defend his title against Dubois, the mandatory challenger. Instead, Usyk chose to relinquish the belt, setting the stage for a clash between the two British fighters.
Dubois, who earned the interim IBF championship by defeating Filip Hrgovic earlier this month, is determined to end Joshua’s reign. He expressed his readiness and ambition, saying, “My goal is to fight and beat the best. Joshua has been the king for a long time, but on that night, I plan to become the king slayer. I’m prepared to give it my all and prove myself as the future of boxing.”
Joshua, who has experienced defeats at the hands of Usyk in 2021 and 2022 but is currently on a four-fight winning streak with three stoppages, will be making his fourth appearance at Wembley. Dubois, however, will be headlining at the iconic venue for the first time.
Joshua acknowledged Dubois’ recent victory over Hrgovic, which he witnessed firsthand. “Congratulations to Daniel on his win. It was a great fight, and I had picked him to win. I’ve had Dubois on my mind for a while now, and I’ll continue to focus on him until I secure another victory.”
Addressing concerns about the age difference between him and the 26-year-old Dubois, the 34-year-old Joshua said, “I feel fresh and good. I don’t indulge in drinking or smoking. Boxing keeps me disciplined. Young fighters should take care of their bodies and minds.”
Usyk had hoped to retain the IBF title until his anticipated bout with Tyson Fury in December, but in a social media post, he graciously addressed Joshua and Dubois, saying, “Anthony and Daniel, the IBF title is my gift to you on September 21.”
This showdown promises to be an electrifying event as Dubois seeks to establish his legacy and Joshua aims to reaffirm his dominance in the heavyweight division.
