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. This can be a large battle, in fact, however it’s additionally an fascinating battle, as properly. Whereas most will argue (rightfully) that Usyk stays the heavyweight king (he’s defeated each Joshua and Dubois, in any case), Joshua and Dubois are excessive stage fighters who’re additionally thrilling to observe.
What’s extra, Dubois almost (some say positively) dropped Usyk final 12 months in Poland. Though Usyk ended up profitable their battle, there was no denying Dubois was, on the very least, in a position to have his moments in opposition to the now legendary Ukrainian. Moreover, Usyk shall 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 brilliant future forward of him. Whereas every man has misplaced just a few fights, the times of boxers being disqualified by followers for struggling a defeat appears to luckily 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. Exhausting. Thunderously exhausting. Low blow or not, Dubois’ shot to Usyk’s torso final 12 months clearly damage the gutsy champion. That’s no shock, nonetheless, as all however considered one of Dubois’ twenty one victories have come by the use of knockout or early stoppage. Because the Usyk battle, Dubois has stopped Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic respectively.
Joshua, in fact, 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 taking place). Issues weren’t wanting that properly for the towering Englishman after dropping two fights, alongside along with his belts, to Usyk just a few years again, however he’s since come again robust, profitable 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.”
