Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois full breakdown and prediction

Joshua and Dubois face off for the IBF heavyweight world title, with undisputed supremacy firmly in the victor's sights

It is due to be the highest ever recorded attendance at a boxing match on British shores, eclipsing the 94,000 record set by Tyson Fury and Dillian Whyte in 2022.

Such numbers could only be generated by the combination of a superstar leading attraction and monumental occasion, which is exactly what we shall witness next Saturday night, September 21, at Wembley Stadium.

In the pairing of Anthony Joshua (26-3-0 23KO), former two-time world champion, against fellow Londoner and current IBF world champion Daniel Dubois (21-2-0 20KO), we will see two of the heavyweight division's most fearsome punchers, most active and inform fighters, do battle in what is guaranteed to be a drama-filled shootout.

The stakes could not be higher, with the magnitude that comes with two Brits squaring off for the heavyweight championship, as well as more than likely a shot at the undisputed crown for the victor, it may well be the fighter most capable of managing the weight of the occasion who comes out victorious.

Earlier in fight week, when speaking on ‘The Stomping Ground’s’ YouTube channel, Eddie Hearn compared the bout to being similar stylistically to Anthony Joshua’s ashamedly never to be seen bout with Deontay Wilder, and he may have a point.

Daniel Dubois is a similarly ferocious knockout artist, who, as with Wilder, does have some inherent limitations. He is technically far sounder than the brash former WBC world champion from America, with a ram rod jab which could rival any man in the division, solid legs which allow him to spring in and out of range with his power shots, deceptively quick hands and a granite chin, last time out taking a multitude of huge shots from the previously unbeaten and favoured Croatian Filip Hrgovic, in what was by far the most impressive win of his career thus far.

On the other hand, his defence does leave much to be desired, often keeping his head on the line with very littl movement and being tagged far too easily with jabs and straight back hands. Though he does have a granite chin, it is his mental strength which has seen him be questioned before, with his two defeats to Joe Joyce and Oleksandr Usyk seeing him voluntarily taking a knee and sitting out the 10-count.

For Anthony Joshua, his career speaks for itself. With 23 knockouts in 26 wins, his own power is unquestionable. Throughout his career we have seen stylistic fluctuations between a spiteful combination punching wrecking ball when bursting through the ranks and in his early title reign, through to a more measured and tactical long-range boxer, such as in the second fight with Andy Ruiz Jr, where he danced around the ring with a beautiful jab and sharp twos and threes for the full 12 rounds.

He has however had to answer question marks of his own, with mental fragility similarly being an accusation, struggling to shake off the mental scars of the stoppage defeat to Ruiz in their first bout and losing the vicious, explosive edge which saw him have so much success in his earlier years.

Now under the tutelage of British trainer Ben Davison, who rose to fame after orchestrating Tyson Fury's comeback and dramatic weight loss, it must be said this is the most complete he has ever looked. Now looking as explosive as ever, AJ seems to have regained the killer instinct of old, stepping in with his shots and ready to go for the kill as soon as he sniffs blood, whilst also not being overly gung-ho. Still capable of boxing at range and exercising patience, this new, more polished version of Joshua does look like it will take some beating.

One question mark still unanswered since his revitalised latest title run, is the fact he has not been in there with somebody who is going to ‘stick it on him’ from the off, go blow for blow, take his best shot and still be there in the pocket, ready to fire back with their own equally lethal artillery.

The victory over Otto Wallin was a mightily impressive performance, however the crafty swede was only ever going to potentially frustrate from the outside and look to fiddle his way to a points victory. Daniel Dubois’s tactics will almost certainly be the antithesis of this. He knows his best gameplan will be to make it a dog fight, and he has the necessary chin and firepower to employ this.

Prediction

For me, whilst ‘DDD’ without doubt has the toolkit and ability to keep the fight competitive and potentially even have his own big moments, the difference will be Joshua’s composure under the lights of the grand occasion, ring IQ, quicker hands, looser combination punching and, most critically, defence.

Amongst the plethora of heated exchanges that we will witness, I just see Joshua having enough nous to land the more significant blows as well as slip, slide or step out from those coming back at him. Dubois needs Joshua to stand in front of him during the exchanges, or tire as was the case with Hrgovic, but AJ has shown on many occasions that he has the knowhow and engine to manage the full 12 rounds, and more importantly, carry that power into the final stanzas.

Though Dubois does have a fantastic chin, I see a compounding effect eventually taking its toll, in a fight where Joshua is always just one step ahead and one level above, culminating in a final third stoppage victory for the former Olympic Gold medallist.

Regardless of the victor, come the close of proceedings on Saturday night, Britain will still boast a world heavyweight champion, ready and waiting to challenge for all four major belts.

For the unfortunate loser, with the arrival of His Excellency into the sport, he has shown his willingness to thrust them straight back into the mix, so it surely won’t mean the end, though one would question if Joshua would have the desire to mount another charge at a world title after what would be a fourth defeat.

If he does get the victory, however, depending on how things unfold in the upcoming rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury, we may be the closest we have ever been to witnessing what would be the biggest fight in British boxing history, but only if the stars align.