Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois Face Off for Vacant IBF Heavyweight Title

The highly anticipated International Boxing Federation (IBF) world heavyweight title fight is set to take place at Wembley Stadium in London, United Kingdom, on Saturday, September 21. The bout, featuring British fighters Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois, promises to be a significant event in the boxing calendar, drawing a record post-war British boxing crowd of 96,000 spectators.

The title at stake was vacated by Oleksandr Usyk in June, soon after his victory over Tyson Fury in May, making him the first undisputed heavyweight boxing champion in nearly 25 years. Usyk chose to relinquish his IBF title, stating via a post on X, “Anthony and Daniel, I know the IBF title is important to you. It is my present to you on 21 September.”

Anthony Joshua, a two-time former unified world heavyweight champion, is seeking to reclaim the IBF title. At 6ft-6, the 34-year-old Joshua hails from Watford, London, and boasts a notable professional record of 28 wins out of 31 fights. His accolades include a gold medal at the 2012 Olympics. Speaking ahead of the fight, Joshua mentioned, “I’m in supreme condition, both physically and also mentally. Ready to rumble – reminding myself what I can do, what I’m capable of.”

Daniel Dubois, standing at 6ft-4, is a 27-year-old fighter from Greenwich, London. His professional career began at the age of 19, having been heavily involved in boxing from a young age due to his family’s encouragement. Dubois, who holds a 21-2 record, was handed the interim IBF belt in June. He views this fight as a crucial step in his career, saying, “It’s a great thing to have, but now I need to legitimise myself by winning this fight. It’s a resurrection story of my career.”

The financial stakes are significant, with Joshua expected to earn a minimum of $7.9 million, potentially rising to $33 million based on pay-per-view sales. Dubois is guaranteed $4.6 million, which could increase to $13.3 million. This event marks Joshua’s return to his home country following fights in Saudi Arabia, while Dubois aims to establish himself among top-tier heavyweight contenders.

Experts have pegged Joshua as the favorite to win, with odds of -425, while Dubois, listed at +320, is considered a formidable underdog. Dubois, who aims to leverage his power and recent improvements, said, “I need to retain it and hold on to it. I just want the biggest challenges and make a name for myself.”

The fight will be the headline event on Saturday, with ring walks expected at 11:30 PM local time. Al Jazeera will provide live coverage starting at 17:00 GMT for those following the event worldwide.