An MMA expert warned that Daniel Dynamite Dubois will test Anthony Joshua like none of his previous opponents as the pair prepare to contest the IBF heavyweight championship of the world in September 2024.
Their match-up comes after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the belt weeks after becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champion in 25 years since he was unable to fulfil his mandatory obligation against Filip Hrgovic due to a rematch with Tyson Fury.
It gives AJ the chance to claim the belt for the first time since 2021, when he lost it to the Ukrainian, when the pair throw down at Wembley Stadium in London on September 21, but Aerial Helwani warned the ex-champion of what his rival is capable of.
“Don’t sleep on Duboius,” Helwani told iFL TV. “Actually, Zhilei [Zhang] thought that Dubois might win, too.
“When Dubois lost to [Joe] Joyce, I thought it was very unfair how people were saying he’s a quitter and he doesn’t have a heart. What do you say about him now?”
Joshua has come under criticism regarding his chin’s durability since he was stopped by Andy Ruiz Jr. in one of the greatest upsets in sports and boxing history back in 2019, and although he took the belts back, that doubt has lingered over him.
It’s what gives people the impression that Dubois can shock the cards considering the 26-year-old’s record of 20 knockouts from 21 wins in his professional career, with his power regarded as his greatest asset.
Helwani excited for the fight
The bout will be the first British heavyweight belt contestation since Fury defeated Derek Chisora in December 2022 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the WBC heavyweight title and there is a lot of hype for the match-up on the other side of the Atlantic.
That includes AJ‘s new look approach to boxing as he returns to his core skills of exceptional power and devastating combinations as well as a good sense of how to control and cut off the ring.
It’s got the 34-year-old Olympic gold medalist looking like the dominant force he was between 2013 and 2018 when he amassed a record of 22 fights and 21 knockouts on his way to holding the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO titles.
“The link up with [coach] Ben Davison has been amazing. He’s looked fantastic,” said Helwani to iFL TV. “How can you criticize AJ now?
“He’s on the great run of his career, arguably. He’s had some great runs. There’s nothing to criticize him now. That’s going to be fun, an all-British clash at Wembley. That’s going to be great. I don’t know how you can criticize.
“If you’re criticizing AJ at this juncture of his career in the streak that he’s on, you’re just being a hater.”
