Joshua set to challenge Dubois for IBF heavyweight title
Fight tops Riyadh Season mega card, this one at Wembley Stadium
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Anthony Joshua, who is seeking to become a three-time heavyweight titleholder, said it was a matter of simply “next man up.” Newly crowned IBF titlist Daniel Dubois said he would need to become “the king slayer.”
That was each man’s view of their impending showdown as they met at a news conference on Wednesday in London to formally announce the worst kept secret in boxing — that they will fight in the main event of the second Riyadh Season card outside of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and the first in the United Kingdom, on Sept. 21 (DAZN PPV, PPV.com) at Wembley Stadium in London.
The rest of the main card was also announced (see details on those other five bouts below) but it was the big men who took center stage less than 24 hours after Oleksandr Usyk gave up his undisputed champion status by vacating the IBF title, which led to Dubois being elevated from interim titleholder to full titleholder.
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Dubois claimed the vacant interim belt on June 1 in an upset eighth-round knockout of Filip Hrgovic to take over as the IBF mandatory challenger. But Usyk had little choice but to vacate because the IBF mandatory was overdue and he is contractually committed to an immediate rematch against Tyson Fury on Dec. 21, against whom he unified the four belts by split decision on May 18. Besides, Usyk dominated and knocked out Dubois in the ninth round last August to retain his three belts and a rematch would have made no sense.
So while Usyk remains the lineal champion and No. 1 in the division, Dubois and Joshua will vie for the IBF belt in an all-British heavyweight title bout that is yet another highly significant fight being backed by Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of the General Entertainment Authority of Saudi Arabia, who oversees Riyadh Season events and continues to bring together rival promoters and broadcasters.
“We are pleased to bring two of the world’s current best heavyweight fighters together in their home city of London and at Wembley Stadium, a historic venue for boxing,” Alalshikh said in a statement. “We know it will be another exciting contest, complemented by a great undercard of fights, and we look forward to giving British fans and visitors to London the opportunity to experience a Riyadh Season event just a matter of weeks before we officially launch the 2024 Season in Riyadh in October.”
Although two-time unified titlist Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs), 34, is the challenger he is the star of the show and has looked rejuvenated in four wins in a row since losing his belts to Usyk via decision in 2021 and again in an immediate rematch in 2022.
Joshua fought three times in 2023 and has already fought once in 2024 in reeling off wins over Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin and, most recently, MMA star Francis Ngannou, whom he crushed in the second round in March.
At the news conference Joshua did not dwell on his chance to win a heavyweight title for the third time. Rather he complimented Dubois on his win over Hrgovic and vowed to be focused and ready come Sept. 21.
“Next man up,” Joshua said. “Congratulations to Daniel for winning his last fight,” Joshua said. “I was there (in Riyadh) to watch it live and we’re here now. Bringing Riyadh Season to the U.K. is a phenomenal opportunity. I picked Dubois to win (over Hrgovic). I watch boxing closely and I picked him before and it came true and we’re here.
“I’ve had Dubois on my mind for awhile and he’ll be on my mind for the next 12 weeks until I get my hand raised.”
Dubois is certainly a better level of opponent than Joshua has faced in his recent bouts.
“It’s a real fight,” Joshua promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing said. “We respect Daniel Dubois. I think he’s done incredibly well. There weren’t many screaming out to fight Filip Hrgovic but he stepped up and I’m so glad he’s champion because AJ can come in as he always does with the challenger mindset and beat another champion to become a three-time world champion.
“This is just part of the journey to undisputed, which we’ve never lost sight of. We see it clearer than ever.”
If Joshua wins it’s likely he would face the Usyk-Fury II winner in 2025 to unify titles and produce another undisputed champion.
“There’s no contract to fight the winner. It’s just going to happen,” Hearn said. “He’s going to win his fight and he’s going to beat the winner of Fury-Usyk (II). But he’s just focused on Sept. 21.”
Much like Joshua, Dubois (21-2, 20 KOs), 26, has rejuvenated himself in his pervious two fights following the one-sided loss to Usyk.
He stopped then-unbeaten Jarrell Miller in the 10th round of their 10-rounder in December in a strong showing and then went to battle with unbeaten Hrgovic in June, shook off some rough moments early on and stopped him to claim the vacant interim belt.
“He went and fought Hrgovic when a lot of people chose not to fight him,” Queensberry Promotions Frank Warren, Dubois’ promoter, said. “First couple of rounds were tough for him but he overcame that and showed what he’s all about and the prize at the end of the day was this fight at Wembley.
“It doesn’t get any better than this: Two Brits in there fighting for the IBF title, two of the biggest punchers in the heavyweight division, and as well know, when you have two quality British fighters fighting each other for such a prestigious title you always get a classic fight. Big punchers. It won’t go the distance. Somebody’s gonna go.”
Dubois, with his new belt with him at the dais, said he would have preferred to win the full title in the ring but that he was excited to have he belt and to defend it against Joshua on a major card.
“I’m really up for this, ready to go,” Dubois said. “I aim to be the best and to fight the best and to beat the best. AJ’s been the king for a long time and on the night I need to become the king slayer. That’s my goal and the mission at hand, so I’m just ready to go.”
Denny vs. Sheeraz
Tyler Denny will defend the European middleweight title against red-hot rising contender and British countryman Hamzah Sheeraz.
Denny (19-2-3, 1 KO), 32, a southpaw, made his first European defense on Saturday, winning a fifth-round technical decision over then-unbeaten Felix Cash, who suffered a cut on his right eyelid from an accidental head butt and was ruled unable to continue. The next day the chance to fight Sheeraz was brought up.
“I fought Saturday and the last few days have been mental, lack of sleep and getting excited about this and then trying not to get too excited until (Tuesday) night when it was confirmed,” Denny said. “But we’re here now and I’m buzzing. Hamzah Sheeraz is a top fighter, someone I respect as well. Can’t say a bad word about him. But saying all that, I’m here to win.”
The 6-foot-3 Sheeraz (20-0, 16 KOs), 25, will have a five-inch height advantage going into a fight that on paper is not his toughest test. He had that in his last fight on June 1 when he dropped and later knocked out then-unbeaten Austin “Ammo” Williams in the 11th round on the “5 vs. 5” card.
Organizers initially tried to sign Chris Eubank Jr. to fight Sheeraz but a source with knowledge of the multi-million dollar offer told Fight Freaks Unite that Eubank declined.
“I watched the fight (against Cash). Good performance, definitely a good performance,” Sheeraz said. “I’ve got respect for Tyler as a person but when it comes to Sept. 21 on fight night it will definitely be brutal to say the least.”
Cacace vs. Warrington
Anthony Cacace will make his first IBF junior lightweight title defense against two-time featherweight titlist Josh Warrington.
Cacace was due to make a mandatory against Eduardo Nunez (26-1, 26 KOs), 26, of Mexico, but it is now clear why their purse bid was twice delayed — including from Tuesday — and ultimately canceled. Cacace got an exception to fight Warrington and Nunez agreed to step aside with the promise he would get a shot at the winner by the end of the year.
Cacace (22-1, 8 KOs), 35, a southpaw from Northern Ireland, won the title via major upset when he stopped Joe Cordina in the eighth round May 18 on the Fury-Usyk undercard in Riyadh. Now he faces a longtime top name in Warrington.
“To be sharing the ring with the likes of Josh Warrington, I’ve watched him over the years,” Cacace said. “He’s a real warrior. He’s gonna make it the best fight possible, so I think this is a real fan friendly fight.”
Warrington (31-3-1, 8 KOs), 33, of England, is moving up in weight and coming off back-to-back losses. He lost the IBF featherweight belt by majority decision to Luis Alberto Lopez in December 2022 and in his only fight since Leigh Wood stopped him in the seventh round of a WBA title defense in October.
“It’s seems when my back’s against the wall I pull the best performances out,” Warrington said. “I have nothing but respect for Anthony and his team. His performance against Cordina was absolutely phenomenal. He boxed really well. He’s got my full respect. We’re gonna throw the kitchen sink at each other. I’m gonna become three-time, two-weight champion.”
Smith vs. Kelly
Former junior middleweight titlist Liam Smith (33-4-1, 20 KOs), 35, of England, will face countryman Josh Kelly (15-1-1, 8 KOs), 30, in a 12-rounder at middleweight.
Smith is coming off a 10th-round knockout loss last September in his immediate rematch with Eubank Jr., whom he knocked out in their first fight.
“This is a great fight on a huge card,” Smith said. “It’s a fight that not many people thought about but now it’s announced. They can see it’s an interesting fight. My focus is on Josh Kelly. I am massively confident of winning. Josh and (trainer) Adam (Booth) probably feel like they are getting me at the right time. Fighters have made that mistake before, and they are doing the same thing.”
Kelly, who is moving up to middleweight, has won five fights in a row and looked sharp.
“I’m a big 154 fighter so 160 will suit me,” Kelly said. “I have nothing but respect for Liam. He has had a great career. He put Liverpool on the map — him and his brothers — and there is no bad blood between us. It’s just business. Stylistically it’s one of the best matchups on the card.”
Buatsi vs. Hutchinson
England’s Joshua Buatsi (18-0, 13 KOs), 31, and Willy Hutchinson (18-1, 13 KOs), 25, of Scotland, will meet for the vacant WBO interim light heavyweight title.
The interim belt was made available because full champion Artur Beterbiev is sidelined by a knee injury and scheduled for a four-belt unification fight for the undisputed title against WBA titlist Dmitry Bivol on Oct.12.
Buatsi promoter Boxxer and Hutchinson promoter Queensberry made a deal this week and avoided a purse bid.
Both are coming off their biggest wins. Buatsi outpointed then-unbeaten Dan Azeez on Feb. 3 in a WBA title eliminator and Hutchinson handily outpointed former title challenger Craig Richards, who also lost a decision to Buatsi in 2022, on June 1 on the “5 vs. 5” card.
“I’m ready to get the job done and move on to the next one,” Hutchinson said. “I’m confident in getting the job done and moving on.”
Said Buatsi: “We’ve got 12 rounds to settle it. It’s that simple.”
Chamberlain vs. Padley
Lightweight Mark Chamberlain will defend his regional belt against Josh Padley.
Chamberlain (16-0, 12 KOs), 25, a southpaw from England, is a personal favorite fighter Alalshikh, and has had his previous two fights on big cards in Riyadh. Most recently he notched a first-round knockout of Joshua Wahab on May 18 on the Fury-Usyk event.
“I’ve worked all my life for this so it proves hard work pays off. Just got to keep delivering and get the win and keep pushing on,” Chamberlain said.
Padley (14-0, 4 KOs), 28, of England, has faced extremely limited opposition and is taking a big step up in class.
“I want to be where he is so the only way to do that is to beat him,” Padley said.
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Joshua-Dubois photo: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
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AJ is favourite but Dubois is certainly a live contender so hard to pick a winner.
You make a good case boxing Jim I still think it looks weak on paper I give you buatis Hutchinson could be a good fight