ANTHONY JOSHUA has a September showdown with Daniel Dubois pencilled in that should smash Wembley’s record.
Tyson Fury maxed the home of football out with 94,000 fans when he knocked Dillian Whyte out under the arches in 2022. Saudi boxing kingmaker Turki Alalshikh wanted to finally make AJ vs Deontay Wilder at the iconic London venue this summer. But the 37-year-old American has now lost back-to-back fights in Riyadh and looks destined for retirement after blowing the fantasy shootout twice in the space of six months.
So 26-year-old Dubois, who burst onto the scene with tales of flooring Joshua when they sparred up at Team GB’s Sheffield base when he was just a teenager, has leaped to the front of the queue. That’s after a brave December win over drug cheat Jarrell Miller and a bloody Saturday night stoppage of Filip Hrgovic.
SunSport understands Alalshikh will contact the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan with a plan to smash the attendance record and mix the all-British boxing spectacular with a music-festival vibe and two children’s play zones. But Dubois – who has bravely battled through demons after surrendering in losses to Joe Joyce and Oleksandr Usyk – wants to make it a more X-rated event.
“It’s a dream,” he said about the mouthwatering all-London brawl.
“Especially after having to come back from defeats and challenging for a world title.
“I now have a chance to win the damn thing outright and that’s what I want.
“I will demolish AJ, from here I can only get even better.
Joshua, 35, was ringside for the show so would have seen Dubois’ breakout performance and Wilder’s limp swansong. The two-time world champion refused any media requests – apart from a doomed rallying war cry for Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom stable that was smashed 5-0 in fights and 10-0 on points by Dubois’ Frank Warren squad. So it was left to Dynamite Dubois to ignite the excitement for the Joshua clash, that will pit two 6ft 6in Adonis against each other in a collision of 35st of muscle.
“There is no retreat from me anymore,” he said.
“Bring Joshua on, I am excited, I am up for it, let’s go.”
The victor of Joshua vs Dubois will be in contention to face the winner of Fury’s rematch with Usyk.
