Daniel Dubois vs Anthony Joshua fight predictions
It was announced on June 26 that British behemoths Daniel Dubois (21-2, 20KO) and Anthony Joshua (28-3, 25KO) are set to lock horns on September 21 at Wembley Stadium.
Despite being elevated to IBF World heavyweight champion, after Usyk vacated, Dubois is the underdog at 7/2, while challenger AJ is the bookies favourite at 1/5.
26-year-old Dubois is a former WBA Regular and IBF Interim champion, both versions of the world title, but he will have to win on September 21 in order to be recognised fully, but 34-year-old AJ will be incentivised to become a three-time world heavyweight champion, which would match the likes of Muhammad Ali.
So it’s South London vs North London, with ‘Dynamite’ Dubois hailing from Greenwich and Joshua coming from Watford. But who wins and why? BBN have asked their trusted panel of experts for their take on the huge British brawl, which many will agree is not going the distance!
Josh Warrington Two-time IBF World featherweight champion: “Both are big punchers. I’m leaning towards AJ. Reason being, he seems to have an air of confidence, but he’s still got that mean, that like demon look in his eye and he’s been here before.”
Hamzah Sheeraz WBC Silver middleweight champion: “The momentum’s all in Queensberry and Frank’s favour. Anthony Joshua to win inside six rounds.”
Liam Smith Former world champion: “I think they’re both, confidence-wise and results-wise, they’re on great form, but I think it’s a style that’s probably suited for Joshua more than Dubois.”
Tyler Denny European middleweight champion: “I don’t want one of them being upset with me, but I think if I had to pick, I’d pick Joshua. I think they’ve both got the destructive power to knock each other out, which is why it’s so fascinating.”
Wayne Alexander Former British, European, World champion: “Firstly AJ v DDD is so good for British boxing both are highly ranked world class fighters, but I believe AJ’s extra skill and experience with at least matching or more power will get him through in what could be a shootout before five rounds.”
Mark Tibbs World champions boxing trainer: “Anthony has been there, seen it, done it all before multiple times all around the world.
“Rumour has it Dubois flattened Joshua in sparring down at the GB camp in Sheffield a few years back, so if that’s true it’s a plus for Daniel.
“Daniel’s form only just started to come through, both are big, big bangers so whoever lands first, fast and hard, wins.
“Going on form, Anthony Joshua is the favourite for me.”
Dillian Whyte World title contender: “Tough fight [for AJ]. I think he needs to get to Dubois early, Dubois is a massive problem, so he needs to start jumping on him early and start landing right hands early because if Dubois starts double jabbing and throwing combinations then it will be a long night for Anthony Joshua.”
Ricky Hatton Two-weight world champion: “It’s the perfect time for this fight, both of them are in great form, I think AJ’s got a little bit more in his armoury, he’s got a little bit more boxing ability and he seems to be much more looser under Ben Davidson, he’s throwing his punches with a lot more snap these days.
“Having said that, Daniel only needs one punch. It’s one of those fights where if Daniel landed and knocked AJ out it wouldn’t surprise me, but AJ could outbox Daniel early and then knock him out and I think that’s where my money would go,”
Matt Marsh Former British super-bantamweight champion: “I think Joshua finishes Dubois off early, within five rounds.”
Johnny Fisher Southern Area heavyweight champion: “I’ve sparred Daniel Dubois for many rounds, many times. One thing’s for sure, he can seriously punch, probably the hardest puncher I’ve been in with. So when he fights Anthony Joshua, that’s something he’s got to look out for.
“If I’m thinking about it with a tactical mind, I think Anthony Joshua’s the favourite. He’s got that bit more tactical nous. We know how good he is with his counter right hand from fighting people like – I know he’s a southpaw – but Charles Martin, even [against] Ngannou he showed how powerful his right hand is and how well he can time it, so that’s something Dubois has got to look out for.
“But, who knows? If Dubois turns up and catches him early, he can get a few of them feelings back a year, two years ago when Joshua was [in] with [Andy] Ruiz, it can affect you them sort of things, you know.”
Barry McGuigan Former world champion: “Because of his achievements and stature, there is a strong case for Joshua. He will seek to control the fight from distance and put it on Dubois in the second half of the fight.
“But Dubois is improving. He is better at coming forward, moving his head and engaging. He will look to jab with Joshua then land a big shot with either hand. My gut feeling is he will knock him out.”
Dean Whyte Boxing manager & promoter: “AJ by knockout. Unless Dubois works on that leaky defence, he took way too much shots in that fight with Hrgovic in the earlier rounds before he won.”
Tony Bellew Former WBC World champion: “AJ is technically better than him. He’s more fluid than him. He’s quicker than him. He hits harder than him.
“Everything that Daniel Dubois is good at, AJ is a bit better at. And he also has a defence.
“As long as Joshua goes in with the same attitude he went in with against Francis Ngannou, it’s over in two rounds. I don’t see any other outcome.”
Marshall Kauffman Kings Boxing: “I really like Dubois, but I just cannot see him being victorious against a more confident AJ.
“I think Dubois will have some success early in the fight but once AJ gets comfortable and feels him out, we will then start to see an AJ beating on Dubois and I can see this going maybe 6 to 8 rounds.
“I wish for a better result for Dubois but AJ is on a different level.
“AJ is in the top 3 for sure in the Heavyweight division.”
Tim Rickson BBN Editor: “Dubois is already a huge underdog in this fight, but his recent performances against Hrgovic and Miller will have provided the perfect preparation for this.
“He had to really bite down on his gumshield and weather a storm in both bouts, firstly against a 24-stone Miller, then an unbeaten No.1 contender in Hrgovic. The question is will he be able to take that same punishment from Joshua, who appears to be back to his explosive best?
“He was eating right hands for fun against Hrgovic, but was able to secure a career-best win in the eighth round. Could he withstand those same right hands from Joshua though? Not many can.
“But can AJ, who has also shown a weakness in punch resistance withstand Dubois’ power? He’s only been the distance once, so he’s prolific at ending opponents early.
“One thing is for certain, with Dubois 95% KO ratio and AJ’s 90%, this ain’t going the distance! If Joshua is clever and calculating, then it’s his fight to win. If it turns into a firefight, then it’s with Dubois.
“I’m going to change my mind all the way up to the fight, but I’m picking AJ by stoppage, for now.
“I know that everyone is saying that as soon as AJ connects with one of his signature right hands, then it’s all over, but Dubois has been stopped twice and both times it took an accumulation of nine-plus rounds of sustained punishment and not a single big shot. So, if he is able to eat one of AJ’s bombs, like he did with Hgovic, then he could be in line to cause an upset.
“It’s a fascinating match-up and I just hope it’s going to go at least six rounds. AJ will need to take Dubois out in the first six rounds, otherwise he could struggle.”
Lee PhelpsSpokesperson for William Hill: “Daniel Dubois is now the holder of the IBF title following Oleksandr Usyk’s decision to vacate the title, which means his September showdown with Anthony Joshua suddenly takes on much greater significance as a world title fight.
“Joshua is bound to go all out to claim the IBF title and, with his confidence returning after his resurgence in the last few years, we make him the 1/6 favourite, while Dubois looks to have his work cut out if he is retain his inherited title at 4/1.”
Ben WinwardBBN writer: “An outstanding matchup between two of the most in form and hardest hitting Heavyweights on the planet.
“For me, Joshua is clearly the far more fluid and technically sound boxer, with better defence, footwork, speed and combinations. Dubois perhaps has a better jab, chin and one punch concussive power, however they are almost equal in that respect.
“For Dubois I think his lack of head movement will be his undoing. He took big shot after big shot against Hrgovic, and I just can’t see Joshua folding as the Croatian giant did around the halfway mark. Though ‘DDD’ exhibited an outstanding chin in this battle, no one can take shots that cleanly for a full twelve rounds against someone who hits as hard as AJ. This fight may well follow a similar pattern as the Hrgovic fight up to the halfway point, however unfortunately for Dubois, around the half way point is when I see Joshua upping the tempo, as oppose to gassing out.
“So long as Joshua uses his technical superiority on the outside and picks his times to trade, he should be able to get the job done. I’ll go with an entertaining back and forth first six, with Joshua getting the stoppage between rounds 7-9.”
Sergio MichelAmerican musician and boxing superfan: “Joshua has nowhere to go, optics-wise. Whatever illusion Hearn spun about him has been shattered. Pursuing this version of the Heavyweight Championship is a ploy to be able to call himself a Champion for promotional purposes.
“Joshua simply cannot cope with not being the talk of the town. The logical fight is Wilder, not Dubois for this title. Dubois is more reliable than Joshua. Sometimes Joshua shows up, sometimes he doesn’t. Dubois should be favoured.”
Arijan GorickiIBO title contender: “My prediction is AJ via TKO 9.
“I don’t think Dubois is ready for experienced heavy hitter Joshua. I think that his confidence will disappear as soon as AJ does his ring walk.”
Louis RobinsonBoxing trainer: “I think this will be the coming of age fight for Dubois and the fight where he really puts his name out there and lives up to the hype we all expected from him by now. I think we seen a much better and improved version of Dubois last time out and as soon as he lands just one big right on AJ we will see the start of the end.”
Bogdan MusatManager & Matchmaker: “I know AJ and Daniel very well. I had our boxer, Bogdan Dinu, sparring with AJ twice for the Klitschko and Parker fights. He was impressive in those fights.
“Daniel knocked out Dinu in the second round of their WBA Interim heavyweight title fight.
“Watching them in their last fights, I saw AJ regaining his power and starting to think that he could win fights with all the important boxers in the heavyweight division.
“For this fight I will go, however, with my favourite, Anthony Joshua. I am seeing him knocking out Daniel in five rounds.”