Daniel Dubois vs. Anthony Joshua: Big Fight Preview & Prediction

By FightPost: MMA & Boxing News on 20th Sep 2024

Not so long ago, the fighting futures of Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua were surrounded by plenty of doubt. An uncertain future with many questions to answer. Although, in truth, we seemingly had all the answers we needed. Both had experienced defeats. Crippling setbacks that seemed to indicate that they had found or reached their level, and in the case of Joshua, many thought that the slow decline was now very much in play.

Dubois was branded a quitter for the way he seemed to surrender too easily against Joe Joyce and Oleksandr Usyk. A heavyweight prospect that was apparently missing a vital ingredient in his arsenal that would prevent him from reaching the upper echelons of his craft.

Joshua had reached the pinnacle of his sport. A two-time heavyweight champion of the world, Joshua was a vital component in boxing once again, finding some semblance of mainstream acceptance. But ever since that night in New York, when Andy Ruiz took away plenty, something appeared to be missing. Two defeats to Usyk and uninspiring performances in the immediate aftermath left Joshua and his many critics fearing the end was near.

However, at different points in the last twelve months, both Dubois and Joshua have apparently found what they need. Redemption comes in many ways.

Dubois passed an important gut check when he survived some deeply worrying signs in his fight with the American heavyweight Jarrell Miller last December. But even more encouraging was his win over the previously unbeaten and highly-rated Filip Hrgović in June. In both fights, he overcame adversity before having his hand raised. Those two wins have pushed those concerning defeats to Joyce and Usyk firmly in the rearview mirror. At least for now.

In recent times, Joshua was perceived as being gun shy and afraid to pull the trigger after labouring to many of his wins since that horror night against Ruiz in 2019. A revenge win over Ruiz was achieved with safety and self-preservation very much the order of the day. Usyk was a puzzle too far for Joshua in their two absorbing world heavyweight title fights. The two immediate wins following those two points defeat to the Ukrainian master were hardly inspiring. Jermaine Franklin took Joshua the distance last year, and the British heavyweight looked distinctly ordinary before knocking out the late substitute Robert Helenius four months later. Joshua desperately needed something to remind everyone what he once was.

Ben Davison was brought in to reignite the old fire. After just two fights with Davison, Joshua looks a reborn fighter. Davison has simplified things. The multiple voices in his ear have now been replaced by just one. A conflicted Joshua now looks to be a thing of the past.

An easier-than-expected victory over Otto Wallin in December was more than encouraging. But his demolition victory over the former UFC champion Francis Ngannou in March, despite Ngannou's limited boxing resume, would have sent out a real warning to his heavyweight rivals.

Of course, there are, to some degree, little seeds of doubt still lingering. For Joshua, both Wallin and Ngannou carried a large slice of pre-fight comfort. Joshua had shared many rounds with Wallin in various forms. That familiarity certainly brought Joshua some much-needed confidence. Ngannou, despite his heroic showing against Tyson Fury, always had his limitations.

Dubois also has one last question to answer. Miller certainly could have come into his fight with Dubois in far better shape, and Hrgović was always viewed with more than a little suspicion. But Dubois did what he had to do. He did what many thought he couldn't do. But Joshua will be a completely different proposition this weekend at Wembley Arena.

The win over Hrgović eventually earned Dubois the IBF heavyweight bauble. All those years waiting for an undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, and when it finally came, Usyk lost that mythical status when a little bit of common sense would have served the sport much better. But Joshua now gets the opportunity to become a three-time world heavyweight champion, something Muhammad Ali achieved all those years ago. Make no mistake, if Joshua eclipses Dubois to match what Ali and others have achieved, the validity of that achievement is most certainly lacking in substance. Dubois against Joshua is very much a title fight of convenience.

But boxing politics aside, Dubois and Joshua will provide a fight with much intrigue. Both now appear to be stronger mentally. A little facet that is often overlooked. The difference between winning and losing often hinges on the mentality of a fighter. But do the recent wins of Dubois and Joshua signal a corner turned? Or do they flatter to deceive?

There are still doubts about both. But I have more doubts about Dubois. He just seems the more fragile of the two British heavyweights. Shy and awkward still apply. Not necessarily a detriment to his chances against Joshua, but if anyone cracks under the intensity of the occasion, you suspect that fighter will be Daniel Dubois.

But he seems to be relishing the prospect of possibly taking his career to a completely different stratosphere. The strength of opposition in recent times certainly favours the reigning IBF champion. We now know he can rise above adversity and go to those dark places and survive. Is Joshua still willing to do that?

A win over Joshua will make those old sparring stories redundant. Although, in truth, they already are. Dubois has the opportunity to bring in a new era of British heavyweight boxing. But at 27, Dubois might still be some way off his absolute peak. He might still have a bit more growing to do. Joshua could just be a little too much for him right now. But Dubois could still enhance his growing reputation, even if defeat does come in front of a reported 96,000 fans at Wembley Stadium on Saturday night. Dubois can most definitely come again. Joshua, probably knows he might not be able to. That might just be the difference on Saturday night. Will Joshua just dig a little deeper and bite down a little harder, knowing it could all be over for him if he doesn't.

At 34, Joshua can't afford another setback. Another reversal, especially a definitive one, and the Matchroom cash cow will find it incredibly hard to recover from a fourth career defeat. But I believe the Joshua faithful will live to fight another day.

Dubois has to be respected, and an upset victory wouldn't totally surprise me. He badly needs a good start. If that comes, and if he can get his heavy jab going in the early stages, Joshua could be in real trouble, especially if Dubois starts landing his potent right hand. The sight of Joshua crumbling under the power of Dubois isn't that hard to envisage.

But Joshua, with everything we know, just has to be favoured to ride out any early difficulties to stop his fellow Brit in emphatic fashion somewhere around the halfway point. If not before.

Photo Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing