Daniel Dubois has boldly stated his plan to knock out Anthony Joshua in their IBF heavyweight title fight at Wembley Stadium on September 21.
The 26-year-old Briton, who sees himself as “a good destroyer,” is confident he can deliver only the second knockout defeat of Joshua’s professional career.
“I aim to knock him out. That’s the plan, the mindset, and the intention for this fight,” Dubois told Sky Sports. “I’m dedicating my whole life to destroying him and proving myself as a true conqueror. I’m not waiting around—I’m going to go out there and smash him.”
The highly anticipated all-British clash will see 96,000 fans create an electric atmosphere at Wembley Stadium. While Joshua is familiar with the venue, it will be Dubois’ first fight at England’s national stadium, adding extra pressure on him and his team, led by trainer Don Charles.
Joshua, 33, is coming off four consecutive wins, including a knockout over former UFC champion Francis Ngannou. He recently dismissed claims that Dubois nearly knocked him out during a 2016 sparring session, stating, “He just landed a good shot. I stayed on my feet. I don’t know where this narrative of someone knocking me out came from.”
Despite Dubois’ confidence, many in the boxing world are backing Joshua to win. European champion Tyler Denny believes Joshua’s power gives him an advantage, and former world champions Liam Smith and Josh Warrington also favour the more experienced fighter.
However, Chinese heavyweight Zhilei Zhang has predicted an upset, saying, “I personally favour Daniel Dubois to win because he’s on a surge. He’s young, hungry, and has the fire in him.”
As the September 21 showdown approaches, both fighters are in top form and eager for victory. Dubois, who has recently scored consecutive stoppage wins over Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic, is determined to dethrone Joshua and claim the heavyweight title.
The bout is set to be one of the year’s most anticipated heavyweight matches, with Dubois vowing to do whatever it takes to secure the win. “No retreat, no surrender. I’m going out there to perform like a warrior,” he declared.
