Promoter Eddie Hearn revealed this weekend that Anthony Joshua’s combat is near being introduced for this Wednesday’s press convention on Jun twenty sixth for AJ’s September twenty first conflict at Wembley Stadium in London.
Hearn smiled when requested if Daniel Dubois could be Joshua’s opponent for the September twenty first date, making it clear that AJ could be battling him.
That’s doubtlessly excellent news as a result of Joshua vs. Dubois is a a lot larger match than if Zhilei Zhang have been the man standing throughout from AJ contained in the ring.
Furthermore, Zhang could be a extra harmful opponent for Joshua on account of his counter-punching means, one-punch energy, robust chin, and being a southpaw.
The very last thing Hearn would want is for Zhang to knock out Joshua like he did Joe Joyce and Deontay Wilder, ruining his probabilities of combating Tyson Fury for the large payday in 2025.
“We’re fairly shut. Perhaps,” mentioned Eddie Hearn to iFL TV when requested if Anthony Joshua’s combat in opposition to Daniel Dubois shall be introduced this Wednesday, June twenty sixth, for September twenty first at Wembley Stadium.
Hopefully, Hearn doesn’t reside to remorse it if Dubois is used as Joshua’s opponent as a result of that’s additionally harmful. Dubois’s confidence from his latest wins over Filip Hrgovic and Jarrell Miller could be sufficient for him to outduel Joshua, who turns 35 in October and isn’t a spring hen.
A Brief however Intense Battle
“It’s going to be a brief combat, however that doesn’t imply it’s a simple combat. I don’t assume this goes previous six,” mentioned commentator Ade Oladipo to Secondsout in regards to the Joshua vs. Dubois contest. “It doesn’t imply AJ doesn’t have to come back by means of some adversity as a result of what we’ve seen is Daniel Dubois has gotten over that hump.”
We don’t know if Joshua has it in him to defeat the younger 26-year-old Dubois. Simply age alone will make it troublesome for Joshua to win this combat, however if you add within the confidence of Dubois, it’s not good for AJ.
Hearn has completed a masterful job rebuilding Joshua together with his cautious match-making, feeding him 4 comfortable opponents, however that’s not true rebuilding. That’s only for advertising and marketing. Joshua was repackaged with the 4 ham & eggers he beat, and he’s promoting effectively once more.
True rebuilding comes from robust match-making, and we haven’t seen that but, which is why there’s an actual chance that AJ may come unglued if he faces Dubois or Zhang on September twenty first.
Joshua’s final 4 opponents:
- Francis Ngannous
- Otto Wallin
- Robert Helenius
- Jermaine Franklin
“Effectively completed for [trainer] Don Charles] for serving to him recover from there,” mentioned Ade. “If you happen to have a look at what he’s completed just lately. He’s had higher opposition within the ring. He’s fought his final three fights, he’s fought Oleksandr Usyk, Hrgovic, and Jarrell Miller,” Ade mentioned about Dubois.
“AJ has fought Helenius, Otto Wallin, and Francis Ngannou. So, one [Dubois] is combating the higher boxers. So, you’ll be able to’t rule out Daniel Dubois, however AJ ought to beat Daniel Dubois. I’ve AJ because the third or fourth-best heavyweight on the earth.”
Joshua’s opposition in his final 4 fights has been the type of starter package deal that you’d have seen him combat when he first turned professional in 2013. He’s not fought the identical opposition as Dubois has, and it’s potential that he would crumble if he needed to run the gauntlet that he did in opposition to Hrgovic, Large Child Miller and Usyk.
“He seems to be like he’s again now with Ben Davison,” mentioned Ade. “That link-up seems to be prefer it’s beginning to produce some good performances. He ought to beat Dubois, however Hrgovic ought to have crushed Dubois as effectively, and a few felt that Jarrell Miller ought to have crushed Dubois.”
Ade doesn’t see issues clearly. Joshua’s final 4 opponents have been ones he may have glided by means of with any of his trainers. Ben Davison didn’t do something that any of AJ’s previous trainers couldn’t have completed in the event that they have been working his nook for his final 4 gimme fights.
“You possibly can by no means rule out Dubois. You possibly can’t rule out confidence, and he’s extraordinarily assured. I feel AJ can be extraordinarily assured.’
