Anthony Joshua, the two-time world heavyweight champion, experienced an unexpected mishap ahead of his upcoming title fight with Daniel Dubois. While sparring with children at his amateur gym, Finchley ABC, Joshua sustained a small cut on his cheek.

In a playful sparring session with youngsters, Joshua, 34, found himself unexpectedly marked by one of the kids. “Which one of you cut me? Was it you?” Joshua jokingly asked, smiling as he pointed to the visible cut on his cheek. The young boxer owned up, earning a nod of respect from Joshua.

Joshua is gearing up to reclaim the IBF world heavyweight title at Wembley Stadium on September 21. His opponent, fellow Brit Daniel Dubois, secured the belt after Oleksandr Usyk vacated it. Tensions have been high between Joshua and Dubois, with a heated face-off where Joshua threatened to throw a chair at Dubois, feeling disrespected.

Joshua recalled past sparring sessions with Dubois, where Dubois managed to land a significant shot. “I knew Daniel from the GB squad,” Joshua said. “We had good spars. He cracked me with a good shot, but I stayed on my feet. There’s this narrative that someone turned my lights off, but nothing like that happened.”

Despite the playful sparring session cut, Joshua remains focused on his preparation. “Whether it’s in the ring sparring or in the ring fighting, I won’t let anyone manhandle me or try to knock me out. No way.”

As the September title fight approaches, both Joshua and Dubois are preparing intensively. Dubois has downplayed past sparring sessions, focusing on the upcoming fight. “I don’t want to talk about sparring. It happened seven years ago, and I can’t remember it. I’m here to fight him,” Dubois stated.

Joshua’s commitment to his training and his playful interaction with young boxers at Finchley ABC highlight his dedication and connection to his roots. The boxing world eagerly anticipates the clash between Joshua and Dubois, promising an exciting showdown at Wembley Stadium.