When: Saturday September 21, 2024
Where: Wembley Stadium in London, United Kingdom
How to watch: DAZN App PPV $19.99
Title: IBF World Heavyweight Title (First defense for Dubois)
Two of the United Kingdom's top heavyweights are set to do battle today. Dubois holds the advantage in youth at twenty-seven years old and is the defending champion coming off his career best victory over undefeated Croatian contender Filip Hrgovic. The IBF following the victory elevated him to full champion from is interim status after the stripping of Oleksandr Usyk. Anthony Joshua brings big fight experience along with advantages in height one inch, reach four inches and weight four pounds. Both are on impressive comeback runs after devastating losses. Dubois lost by stoppage when he suffered an orbital bone injury vs Joe Joyce and again by stoppage to Oleksandr Usyk in his previous world title showing. Since then he defeated undefeated Jarrell Miller and undefeated top ranked IBF contender Filip Hrgovic by stoppage. These victories significantly elevated Dubois' status as a top contender and force in the division. Joshua lost back to back title fights to the aforementioned Usyk but bounced back with a decision victory over Jermaine Franklin followed by stoppages over Robert Helenius, Francis Ngannou and Otto Wallin. When two massive punchers who have been stopped before meet many outcomes are possible.
My prediction is that this fight is going to be very tense for about five rounds. Both men can punch with Dubois bringing a 95% KO percentage and Joshua carrying an impressive 89% stoppage rate of his own. Sometimes when two bombers meet in the ring there is a chance of a cautious bout; David Haye vs Wladimir Klitschko comes to mind. Other times you get a back and forth war like Ron Lyle and George Foreman. I feel that Joshua has the tools to box and use his height, reach, and experience to stay out of harms away. Joshua displayed excellent footwork and movement in the Andy Ruiz rematch and that is going to be a key in this fight. Dubois to his credit has a good jab as well and it was effective even in defeat to Usyk. Dubois is also quite good at closing the gap vs taller fighters which he did vs Hrgovic. I also feel that Dubois takes a better shot than Joshua. Despite the stoppage losses Dubois took hard shots from Miller and Hrgovic and in defeat still took big shots off of Joyce. I am not sure Joshua survives some of the onslaughts that Dubois has survived. Dubois I feel is also more battle tested as of recently having faced the tougher opposition in recent fights though Joshua has the better overall competition. I pick Joshua to win by a stoppage in the second half getting by on his experience and longer punches to reach the target quicker. That said, I could see Dubois cashing in like Ruiz and landing compact power punches and shocking AJ in Wembley.
Ring Magazine did their twenty expert picks and it was 19-1 Joshua so there is also that. Duke Mckenzie was the lone dissenter. Many picked Joshua by 9th round stoppage. Boxing YouTuber Rummy's Corner did pick Dubois based on recent performances and level of competition.
Lets hear your pick!
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