By: Sean Crose
With Oleksandr Usyk giving up his IBF heavyweight title this week, former IBF titlist Anthony Joshua will battle Daniel Dubois (the present titlist by advantage of getting been the primary contender) for the belt. A scheduled 12 rounder between the 2 Englishmen will happen September twenty first at Wembley Stadium in London. It is a massive battle, after all, but it surely’s additionally an attention-grabbing battle, as nicely. Whereas most will argue (rightfully) that Usyk stays the heavyweight king (he’s defeated each Joshua and Dubois, in spite of everything), Joshua and Dubois are excessive degree fighters who’re additionally thrilling to observe.
What’s extra, Dubois practically (some say undoubtedly) dropped Usyk final yr in Poland. Though Usyk ended up successful their battle, there was no denying Dubois was, on the very least, capable of have his moments towards the now legendary Ukrainian. Moreover, Usyk can be rematching Tyson Fury this December, a person neither Joshua nor Usyk has ever met within the ring. The underside line? The winner of this match between Joshua and Usyk stands to have a vivid future forward of him. Whereas every man has misplaced a number of fights, the times of boxers being disqualified by followers for struggling a defeat appears to happily be coming to an finish…and never a second too son.
A small variety of losses apart, the very first thing that involves thoughts with each Joshua and Dubois is the truth that these males can hit. Arduous. Thunderously onerous. Low blow or not, Dubois’ shot to Usyk’s torso final yr clearly harm the gutsy champion. That’s no shock, nevertheless, as all however one among Dubois’ twenty one victories have come by means of knockout or early stoppage. For the reason that Usyk battle, Dubois has stopped Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic respectively.
Joshua, after all, wants no introduction. At one level the person held three out of the 4 main heavyweight titles. He stopped the likes of Wladimir Klitschko and Alexander Povetkin and was as soon as on the cusp of combating for the undisputed heavyweight championship himself (boxing politics – together with the American authorized system – stored that a lot ballyhooed battle with Fury from occurring). Issues weren’t wanting that nicely for the towering Englishman after dropping two fights, alongside along with his belts, to Usyk a number of years again, however he’s since come again robust, successful 4 in a row. His final battle, a two spherical destruction of UFC legend Francis Ngannou, was the stuff of fighter nightmares.
Issues reportedly turned so intense between Joshua and Dubois on Wednesday, the 2 males needed to be separated whereas recording pre-fight promotional materials. Joshua responded to the incident by posting an image of himself on social media in a tank high wanting intense. The picture was accompanied with the next phrases:
“Actuality’s about to hit him.”
