STAR BOXING PREVIEW: Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois

96,000 fans will pack into Wembley Stadium this weekend as two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (28-3 25KO) takes on his former Team GB sparring partner Daniel Dubois (21-2 20KO) with the IBF heavyweight title on the line., writes JORDAN NEILD.

Anthony Joshua has changed British boxing since he turned professional in 2013, he has made it normal practice to sell out stadiums and although there have been low moments in the last decade, nobody can deny the impact he has had on the sport. Now 34, he is approaching the end of his career but with an opportunity to become a three-time heavyweight champion in front of him, his story isn’t over.

Since losing his world titles in back-to-back fights to Oleksandr Usyk, ‘AJ’ has put together four wins and looks like he is getting back to his destructive best. His upturn in form has been credited to new trainer Ben Davison, who interestingly is also credited with inspiring the comeback of Tyson Fury, and if he can mastermind a win over Daniel Dubois, it will let the rest of the division know Anthony Joshua remains a dangerous threat.

When Daniel Dubois emerged onto the scene in 2017, he was marketed as the second coming of Anthony Joshua. His physique and skillset are similar to ‘AJ’ and in the early part of his career, he destroyed every opponent put in his way. ‘DDD’ first taste of adversity came in 2020 when he was stopped inside ten rounds by Joe Joyce.

‘DDD’ wasn’t knocked out by Joyce but he took a knee and refused to continue, a decision that reverberated around the boxing world. In Dubois’ defence, his eye was badly injured but that decision opened the floodgates for people to question his heart and he went from being a future heavyweight contender to being labelled a ‘quitter’.

Many expected Dubois to fade into the abyss following that defeat but the Londoner regrouped and put together four solid wins before travelling to Poland to take on Oleksandr Usyk in 2023. He was ultimately stopped by Usyk but the fact he was prepared to travel to fight someone of that calibre laid to rest any doubts around his heart and Dubois earned the respect of the sport that night.

Since suffering his second career loss, Dubois has knocked out fellow contenders Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic which are statement wins but facing Joshua is yet another step up. However, boxing is all about timing and Daniel Dubois truly believes that opportunity will meet destiny at Wembley and he will solidify himself as one of the best heavyweights in the world.

This is a clash of generations and an argument that Dubois may be on the way up the hill whilst Joshua is on his way down is valid, but you can’t look past the recent form of Joshua. He will likely be cautious early, not wanting to give any advantage to his former sparring partner but as the fight edges into the second half, ‘AJ’ can make his class and experience count.

Anthony Joshua to win in rounds 7-12 is a bet worth some consideration.

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On the undercard, newly crowned IBF super featherweight champion Anthony Cacace (22-1 8KO) gets an opportunity to enhance his reputation as he takes on two-time featherweight king Josh Warrington (31-3-1 8KO) over twelve rounds.

Warrington is coming into this fight with something to prove after losing two of his last three fights but his reputation, and his ability to draw a huge crowd, mean he will always get opportunities and he is the type of fighter that can spring an upset at any time.

To his credit, Warrington’s last two fights have been against world class opposition in Luis Alberto Lopez and Leigh Wood, so he is still operating at a high level down at featherweight and although a move up in weight doesn’t necessarily make sense on paper, he has earned the right to explore opportunities like this as a two-time world champion.

For Anthony Cacace, this is a fight that makes a lot of sense. He sprung a huge upset by knocking Joe Cordina out to claim the belt and an opportunity like this to fight a huge name under favourable conditions is hard to turn down.

Ultimately, the determining factor in this one will be size. Cacace is a big super-featherweight and with Warrington being a career featherweight, it’s going to take something special for him to upset the odds. The newly crowned champion has momentum behind him and we can expect that to continue to build this weekend.

Anthony Cacace by KO/TKO is a strong fancy this weekend.

The clash between the two light-heavyweight contenders Joshua Buatsi (18-0 13KO) and Willy Hutchinson (18-1 13KO) is another fight to keep an eye on with both men looking to secure a world title shot in 2025. Buatsi was an outstanding amateur who won a medal at the 2016 Olympic Games but his professional career has failed to gain any serious momentum.

He is undefeated in eighteen fights but he doesn’t have a statement victory yet but that could change this weekend against Hutchinson, who arrives in London on the back of the biggest win of his career against Craig Richards in Saudi Arabia.

Hutchinson has spent most of his professional career down at super middleweight but after suffering a shock knockout defeat to Lennox Clarke, he jumped up to 175lb and looks rejuvenated in his new weight class.

This is the fight that has heated up during fight week with both men exchanging insults and there is a good chance it catches fire once the bell goes. Hutchinson won’t take a backwards step and that could play into the hands of Buatsi, who is a sharp counter puncher.

Hutchinson is a live underdog here but there must be a moment when Joshua Buatsi realises his potential and this feels like that moment. Joshua Buatsi to win by KO/TKO is the play here.

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RECOMMENDED BETS
BACK Anthony Joshua to win in rounds 7-12 1pt at 7/4 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Joshua Buatsi to win by KO/TKO 1pt at 11/8 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Anthony Cacace to win by KO/TKO 2pts at 13/8 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

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PROFIT/LOSS (SEP 2024): +3.15 POINTS

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