Anthony Joshua has the opportunity to become a three-time heavyweight champion when he faces newly-elevated IBF titlist Daniel Dubois on September 21.

The 26-year-old was upgraded from Interim to Full Champion when formerly-undisputed Oleksandr Usyk – who has beaten both men – vacated the belt. His first defence is against countryman ‘AJ’, who lost his unified titles to Usyk back in 2021 and has been on the rebuild ever since defeat in the rematch.

Heavyweight stalwart Derek Chisora, who is another former opponent of Usyk, revealed the advice he gave his friend ‘AJ’ in an interview with Box Nation.

“I said to AJ, do not let Daniel get his double jab off. Kill his double jab. Because he gets his momentum going. If you look at Usyk, when he started getting his double jab going he got to Usyk. And then the low blow came in and Usyk shut the double jab down then in a couple rounds knocked him out.

Hrgovic and Big Baby Miller – Daniel got his double jab going and he won the fight. Get his double jab away from him and you win the fight. I think Ben Davison knows exactly what he wants to do with this fight.”

Dubois comes into the bout with confidence after the Jarrell Miller and Hrgovic wins, showing levels grit and heart that many previously said he didn’t have in his arsenal. Joshua is coming off stoppage wins over Otto Wallin and Francis Ngannou.

Asked for a prediction, Chisora simply said the fight would end in the first half.

“I don’t see it going past five rounds.”

Dubois and Joshua top a stacked card in Riyadh Season’s first promotional effort on British shores.