Joshua to Face Dubois for IBF Heavyweight title at Wembley in September showdown

Anthony Joshua is set to clash with fellow Briton Daniel Dubois for the IBF heavyweight title at Wembley Stadium on September 21.

This highly anticipated bout follows Oleksandr Usyk’s decision to vacate the belt, leading to Dubois, 26, being elevated from interim to full champion.

Joshua, 34, a two-time world champion, comes into the fight on a formidable four-fight winning streak, with each of his last three victories achieved by stoppage.

Dubois, meanwhile, has secured his last two wins by stopping Jarrell Miller in December and Filip Hrgovic this month, solidifying his status as interim champion.

Usyk initially requested to retain the IBF belt to keep the undisputed title on the line for his rematch against Tyson Fury on December 21 but later opted to vacate the title.

“Anthony and Daniel, I know the IBF title is important to you. It is my present to you on 21 September,” Usyk stated in a video message on X.

Dubois’s previous attempt at a world title ended in controversy when he faced Usyk in August. In that bout, Dubois floored Usyk in the fifth round with a punch deemed a low blow by the referee, before losing by stoppage in the ninth round.

Dubois holds a record of 21 wins in 23 fights, while Joshua boasts 28 victories and three losses. Together, they have a combined total of 45 knockouts.

This event will mark Wembley’s first boxing match since Fury’s triumph over Dillian Whyte in December 2022. For Joshua, it will be his fourth appearance at the venue and his third as a headliner. Dubois, however, will be experiencing a main event at a 60,000-plus capacity venue for the first time.

The winner of this bout will be in prime position to challenge the victor of the Usyk-Fury rematch, adding further stakes to an already thrilling encounter.