As Saturday night’s heavyweight showdown between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois approaches, boxing experts, former champions and boxing analysts have shared their predictions.
The two British boxers will go toe-to-toe for the IBF heavyweight title at Wembley stadium in front of a record 96,000 fans as part of Riyadh Season.
A victory could also position Joshua for a shot at the undisputed heavyweight crown, setting up a potential blockbuster clash against the winner of the highly anticipated Usyk versus Tyson Fury rematch in December.
Many believe this highly-anticipated matchup will hinge on power, experience, and tactical prowess – with little to separate the two rivals.
Ahead of fight night, Mail Sport have rounded up what the sport’s biggest names have had to say about this weekend’s historic bout.
Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois will go head-to-head at Wembley stadium on Saturday
Oleksandr Usyk: ‘Anthony Joshua is a different level’
Ukrainian heavyweight Usyk will be all too familiar with the skillsets of both fighters – having recorded victories over both men in recent years.
Usyk – who is gearing up for a December rematch with Fury – insisted he’s confident in Joshua’s ability to overcome Dubois, noting the significant difference in their levels of experience and skill.
The reigning WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, IBO heavyweight champion, though typically modest about making predictions, strongly believes that Joshua’s pedigree as an Olympic champion sets him apart from Dubois.
He said : ‘Of course Anthony Joshua beats Daniel Dubois. I am bad at predictions but I know this. Listen, it’s Olympic champion vs UK champion. Anthony is a different level to Daniel Dubois.’
Oleksandr Usyk will be all too familiar with the skillsets of both fighters – having recorded victories over both men in recent years
Lennox Lewis: ‘It’s not going to be an easy fight’
Lennox Lewis believes the Joshua vs Dubois fight will be challenging for both men. He recognises the stakes, with both fighters looking to prove themselves and earn respect in the heavyweight division.
Lewis emphasised the pressure on Joshua to defend his spot at the top, while acknowledging that Dubois must rise to the occasion if he wants to retain his title.
‘It’s not going to be an easy fight for either man,’ he said . ‘Both guys have something to prove. Both guys want respect. It’s a situation where the top guy has to defend his spot. AJ has to defend his spot at the top and if Daniel wants to keep his title this is what he has to do. He has to beat Anthony Joshua. But I’m not sure if he will do it.’
Lennox Lewis sat down with Mail Sport to discuss the upcoming IBF heavyweight title fight
Eddie Hearn: ‘AJ will win the fight in three rounds’
It will come as no surprise who Eddie Hearn – Matchroom boxing chief who represents Joshua – is predicting to win at Wembley.
Hearn said: ‘In my opinion, it depends on how Daniel Dubois comes out. If he boxes cautiously, he’d be in trouble. I think the fight could go longer if he boxes aggressively and goes for it, then someone’s getting knocked out early.
‘Obviously my thought is that AJ is too smart, too experienced, and will open him up and will take advantage of his mistakes, and I think if he boxes aggressively, then AJ will win the fight inside three rounds, three rounds like heckling hands.’
Frank Warren: AJ’s getting KO’d in four or five rounds
Similarly, Frank Warren – founder of Queensberry Promotions who represent Dubois -has backed his man to get it done on the night.
‘Daniel’s got power,’ Warren said. ‘I think Daniel’s going to knock him out. I think it’s going to go four or five rounds then AJ is getting knocked out. I think it’s going to be exciting.
‘I think this may even wind up being Britain’s answer to Hagler and Hearns. I think they’re both going to get get down in the trenches and it’s gonna be a shootout.’
Eddie Hearn (left) and Frank Warren (right) offered their opinions on the blockbuster bout
Ricky Hatton: ‘AJ’s got rhythm and he’s a better boxer’
Speaking to Mail Sport via Prime Casino, Hatton said: ‘I would say AJ, just because I think he’s got a little bit more rhythm, a little bit more looseness to him. He’s the slightly better boxer. But listen, better boxers have been beaten by sluggers sometimes.
‘AJ has got a good team behind him, with Ben in his corner. If I had to put my last pound on it, then I would be putting it on AJ.
He went on to add: ‘Unless it’s a one-round or two-round blowout, I can’t see how it cannot be a war because, for both fighters, their best defence is their offence.’
Ben Shalom: ‘AJ is going to walk through Dubois’
Boxxer promoter Ben Shalom has backed Joshua to get the job done at Wembley.
He said: ‘Personally I see it being an upset from the start, and I know it doesn’t help towards selling the fight, but I think AJ is going to walk through Daniel. I think he’s going to do it within five rounds. And I think we’re going to see an explosive, memorable Anthony Joshua Wembley Stadium night.
‘I think Anthony Joshua, in his vein of form in the last three fights with Ben Davidson, looks calm, collected, mentally prepared. It’s been here before plenty of times. Look, I might eat my words but I can’t see anything but an AJ win.’
Speaking to Mail Sport via Prime Casino, Hatton said Joshua will ‘walk through’ Dubois
Tony Bellew: ‘Anthony Joshua stops him inside four’
Former cruiserweight world champion Tony Bellew is confident that Anthony Joshua will get the job done early.
Bellew feels that Dubois’ defense has been leaky in previous fights, particularly his bout against Filip Hrgovic, where he absorbed several hard right hands.
Bellew believes that Joshua won’t let Dubois off the hook if he’s able to land with similar frequency.
‘All I can see is Joshua early. The first four rounds,’ Bellew told DAZN. ‘Daniel takes too many shots… You won’t get away with that with Joshua, and that’s how I think the fight will be won’.
Joshua Buatsi: ‘It has the ingredients for a good fight’
Fellow British boxer Joshua Buatsi insisted the bout is one that will excite the neutral.
‘We’re gonna have to sit and watch,’ he said. ‘But I will say that if you ask me, who’s boxed that Wembley two or three times when it’s been jam packed? AJ has done that so has that familiarity. He’s been there. He’s done that walk before, not once, more than once.
‘Dubois hasn’t done that yet. But he’s champion. He’s confident. He came through a very, very uphill moment against Hrgovic, and he came out on top, and that, for me, has erased some of the losses that he’s had because Hrgovic was a big win.
‘I believe he was a boogeyman in the heavyweight division, and Dubois came out on top, you know, and he’s showing maturity and improvements. So it has all the ingredients for a good fight. And like yourself, we’re just gonna have to be there and watch it.’
Fellow British boxer Joshua Buatsi insisted the bout is one that will excite the neutral
Dorian Darch: ‘Joshua’s power will be too much’
Dorian Darch, a fighter who has shared the ring with both Joshua and Dubois, offered his unique perspective based on personal experience.
He too predicted a Joshua knockout, citing the younger fighter’s inability to handle sustained punishment from a heavy hitter like Joshua.
‘I think it’s got to be early to middle Joshua knockout, I reckon,’ Darch told Sports Boom. ‘Dubois took around seven to eight right hands against Hrgovic, and you just can’t physically take them off AJ’.
Camille Estephan: ‘Joshua in the later rounds’
Camille Estephan acknowledged the size of the challenge ahead for Dubois, but still had confidence in him.
However, Estephan admitted that Joshua’s experience and tactical superiority could lead to a later-round stoppage in favour of the former two-time heavyweight champion.
‘I think Joshua’s jab and counter right hand will be the key. Dubois is dangerous, but Joshua has been there before in the big fights. He’ll come out on top, but not without some challenges,’ Estephan said to The Ring.
Dorian Darch (left), a fighter who has shared the ring with both Joshua and Dubois, offered his unique perspective based on personal experience
Mark Tibbs: ‘Dubois has a puncher’s chance’
Trainer Mark Tibbs recognised the experience gap but believes Dubois can pull off the upset if he fights the perfect fight.
Tibbs pointed to the heavyweight division’s unpredictability, where one punch can change everything.
‘Joshua’s got the edge, for sure, with experience and tactics, but Dubois has the power to make it interesting,’ Tibbs said during a recent interview. ‘If Dubois catches him right, it could be lights out, but I still lean towards Joshua because of his big-fight experience.
Johnny Nelson: ‘Joshua’s skill will win’
Former cruiserweight champion and Sky Sports pundit Johnny Nelson has backed Joshua to win, not because of raw power, but due to his technical skill and adaptability.
Nelson believes Joshua’s ability to fight smart, keep range, and control the tempo will see him through.
‘Dubois is dangerous, no doubt, but Joshua has learned from his losses and knows how to box smart when it matters,’ Nelson stated on Sky. ‘He won’t take unnecessary risks, and I think that’s why Joshua will get the win’.
Former cruiserweight champion and Sky Sports pundit Johnny Nelson backed Joshua to win
Tony Sims: ‘Joshua will KO Dubois at the half way stage’
‘I think Joshua will be a big favorite, as he’s vastly experienced,’ Tony Sims told The Ring.
‘They both have tremendous punching power. They both sparred each other quite a bit when Anthony was a young pro and Dubois was a teenager. Anthony was always in control of the spar. So he may hold a mental edge over Daniel from them days. Although it was a long time ago now.
‘Dubois has a jab like a right hand so can cause damage early on, if he starts landing in the opening rounds. Joshua also carries power in both hands, especially the right hand, he’s also very smart defensively, where Daniel lacks a good defense. It’s gonna be a short-lived fight. I think it goes before the half way mark with Joshua earning the KO.’
