On Saturday night, a record crowd at Wembley Stadium will bear witness to one of the biggest nights in the history of British boxing.
Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois will do battle over the course of twelve rounds with the IBF heavyweight title on the line.
Victory for Joshua would see him join the elite group of fighters to have captured the heavyweight title on three separate occasions.
Meanwhile if Dubois is able to upset the odds and get his hand raised he will assert himself among the elite of the division, and cement his status as the contender-in-waiting as Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk prepare to do battle once more.
Boxing legend JOHNNY NELSON has provided Mail Sport with his ultimate guide for the showpiece fight, taking a look at the strengths and weaknesses of each boxer as well as the tactics each camp will look to utilise.
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Former cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson has given his expert verdict on the showdown
OVERVIEW
At 34, Anthony Joshua has reached maturity as a heavyweight.
He has gone through every experience, the highs, the lows, he has no excuses and knows he can’t afford to lose this. His head is in the right place.
He has reasoned with his standing among the British public: once the darling then being questioned for his actions.
He is carrying that spikiness associated with wanting to prove people wrong and he has just the right amount of spite to be his best as a fighter.
Daniel Dubois at 27 is a comparative baby and still has more to learn but he has a puncher’s chance.
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AJ has matured from the fighter that burst onto to the scene with Olympic gold in 2012
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Meanwhile Dubois is at a much different stage in his burgeoning career as a professional
STRENGTHS
Joshua has an amazing jab, he is fast and can be stunning with his finishing, it’s almost like a fishing hook of a right hand that does the damage.
We saw against Francis Ngannou proof that Joshua is the biggest punching heavyweight out there. He hits so hard it’s almost like a cartoon where he lifts opponents off their feet.
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Both fighters have repeatedly demonstrated their ability to land devastating KO punches
WEAKNESSES
There have been question marks about the chin of Dubois and his courage. That criticism is still raw but he has gone some way to disproving that in his last two performances.
However, he still gets hit far too easily and he can’t afford that on Saturday.
Joshua’s biggest problem will be complacency: looking at Dubois and thinking he doesn’t deserve to be in the ring with him. He must be ultra professional.
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Dubois came under fire for taking a knee after being peppered by the jab of Joe Joyce’s in 2020
TACTICS
Daniel Dubois can’t stand off Anthony Joshua, he must get in close and make it a dogfight. He can’t give Joshua space to breathe and, as he says, must try to win by any means necessary.
If he stands off, Joshua will pick him off. AJ usually reads a situation well, he will look to jab, step back, then let his right hand power over to do the damage.
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The younger fighter needs to seize the initiative from the opening bell if he is to get his hand raised
PREDICTION
Joshua’s coach Ben Davison is not bringing anything particularly new to the table but he has found a voice that brings greater self-belief to AJ.
He’s hitting harder and sharper and believes he’s a dangerous weapon once again. I back Joshua to win by stoppage inside six rounds.
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