Anthony Joshua Recognizes Tough Challenge Posed by IBF World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Dubois

Anthony Joshua is gearing up for a formidable challenge as he aims to capture the IBF world heavyweight title from Daniel Dubois on September 21 at Wembley Stadium. Dubois, hailing from Greenwich, ascended to the world champion position after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the IBF belt last week to focus on his upcoming rematch with Tyson Fury.

Dubois (21-2, 20 KOs) has been on a roll, recently securing impressive victories by stopping Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic in Saudi Arabia. Joshua, a two-time world champion, witnessed the 26-year-old Dubois deliver Hrgovic’s first loss in Riyadh in June.

Reflecting on Dubois’ performance, Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs) told iFL TV, “Watching him live in Saudi, I could see that he knows what he’s doing. He’s a skilled fighter, and the worst mistake anyone can make is underestimating an opponent. We’re going to give him the respect he deserves, especially after his recent wins. He’s a serious contender.”

Joshua acknowledges that Dubois has shown significant improvement in ring composure since training under Don Charles. Meanwhile, Joshua has recently teamed up with coach Ben Davison. Joshua praised Charles, known for his work with Dereck Chisora, as a “phenomenal coach,” noting the critical role of coaching in a fighter’s success.

“In sports, if a team underperforms, they often replace the coach, not the players. Coaches are crucial,” Joshua remarked. “People questioned my switch of coaches, but it’s about the coach’s influence. They provide motivation and guidance. I’m confident in my current set-up to achieve victory.”

The winner of this high-stakes match at Wembley hopes to challenge the victor of the Usyk-Fury fight. If Joshua succeeds in becoming a three-time world heavyweight champion, he will join an elite group that includes legends like Muhammad Ali, Lennox Lewis, and Evander Holyfield.

However, Joshua is focused on the immediate task at hand. “I’m not thinking about the championship yet. There’s a lot of work to be done before that becomes a reality. I have 12 weeks of hard training ahead. This isn’t about redemption; it’s about doing what I need to do. I’m blessed to be in this position again, potentially on the path to becoming champion once more.”

Joshua is determined to put in the hard work and push his limits to win the title. “I need to dive deep into my training and push myself beyond my previous limits. This is championship-level boxing, and I’m ready for it,” he concluded.