ANTHONY JOSHUA “I COULD FIGHT DUBOIS TODAY”
Wednesday’s open workout in London brought plenty of excitement, but the real buzz came when Anthony Joshua arrived—fashionably late. Fans wondered if the former world champ was playing mind games, making an early attempt to assert dominance. Was he looking to get in Daniel Dubois' head? The truth was far less dramatic: London's infamous traffic had caught him out.
Even if Joshua had been aiming for psychological warfare, it didn’t matter much—Dubois had already left the scene. The setting, however, was something to behold. The venue, transformed to resemble Buckingham Palace, was decked out for a night of fights, with a ring ready to host three professional bouts later on.
Despite his late arrival, Joshua was calm, relaxed, and ready to go. “There’s three fights happening here tonight—10 out of 10, it feels good,” he said with a grin. “The canvas feels good, the ring size is perfect. Honestly, if someone wrapped my hands and put my gloves on, I could fight right now.”
When asked about his emotions heading into the big fight, Joshua kept it cool: “There are no emotions. I’m just here.” But before signing off for the night, he teased the days to come: “More media, more talking, more training—but most importantly, walking into the ring in front of 96,000 people, ready to show my gladiator spirit.”
Let’s just hope the traffic doesn’t slow him down again on fight night!
Anthony Joshua is on a mission to reclaim his place among boxing’s elite, aiming to become a three-time world champion this Saturday against fellow British powerhouse, Daniel Dubois. The fight is set to break records with a staggering 96,000 fans packing into Wembley Stadium—setting the stage for one of the most anticipated bouts in recent memory.
The past two years haven’t been easy for Joshua, who admitted, “I’ve been through a lot of pain.” After back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk in 2022, the former champ has fought his way back to the top, putting himself in position to challenge for Dubois’ IBF title.
“I’ve worked hard to improve, and I don’t ever want to feel that way again,” Joshua told BBC Sport, referencing his emotional reaction after the Usyk defeats. “I hate losing. But I’ve learned a lot, and those lessons have made me a better fighter.”
Joshua’s recent form has been impressive, to say the least. Riding a four-fight win streak, his last bout ended with a brutal knockout of Francis Ngannou, showing the world that Joshua still has that knockout power in spades. “I think I’m blessed with the ability to fight,” he said. “You learn to read your opponents, spot their tendencies. Over the last year, I’ve been sharpening those skills.”
Fight week kicked off in style with a media day at London’s Old Billingsgate, where Joshua and Dubois squared off for the first time since their heated June confrontation. With Tower Bridge as the backdrop, the scene couldn’t have been more iconic.
Joshua, a seasoned pro when it comes to UK stadium fights, appeared at ease as he fulfilled his media obligations. He even lightened the mood after a tense stare-down, posing for photos and graciously accepting a fan’s request for a hug.
On the other side, Dubois looked like a man on a mission—focused, serious, and clearly ready for the media circus to end so he could get down to business.
The tension between the two dates back to a behind-the-scenes altercation in June, where Joshua reportedly threatened to throw a chair at Dubois. Reflecting on the incident, Joshua said, “I was just telling him to stay in his lane. I don’t expect him to respect me, but I’m ready to earn that respect in the ring.”
Saturday’s fight is more than just a title match—it’s a chance for Joshua to cement his legacy. A win would place him among the heavyweight greats like Muhammad Ali, Lennox Lewis, and Evander Holyfield, all of whom have held the world title three times.
And while whispers of a potential super-fight with Tyson Fury swirl in the background, Joshua isn’t letting his focus stray from the dangerous opponent in front of him. “Dubois is a good fighter, a brilliant fighter,” Joshua acknowledged. “People are underestimating me, but I’ll remind them just how good I am.”
