Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois: Live Updates, Results, Analysis from Wembley Stadium

Anthony Joshua challenges Daniel Dubois for the IBF world heavyweight title at Wembley Stadium today in an all-British boxing showdown. Joshua is attempting to follow in the footsteps of Muhammad Ali, Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis by becoming a three-time heavyweight world champion. This is Dubois’ first title defence and just his second world championship fight. Follow live coverage below.

There is only one heavyweight world title on the line today: the International Boxing Federation (IBF) belt. Anthony Joshua knows it very well. It was the first heavyweight world title he won, all the way back in April 2016 when he made light work of the American Charles Martin in just Joshua’s 16th professional fight.

Joshua defended the belt six times over the following three years, eventually losing it to Andy Ruiz Jr. in one of the most shocking results in heavyweight history in June 2019. Joshua of course avenged that defeat to reclaim the title, only to lose it for a second time when he was outpointed by Oleksandr Usyk in September 2021.

Usyk won the subsequent rematch and defended the title in fights with Daniel Dubois and Tyson Fury before he gave up the title to pursue a rematch with the latter rather than the former. That decision saw Dubois elevated to full IBF champion after he stopped Croatia’s Filip Hrgovic in an interim title showdown in Saudi Arabia earlier this year.

Pre-fight Analysis

Anthony Joshua enters Saturday's bout with IBF champion Daniel Dubois with the opportunity to become a three-time world heavyweight champion. The pair meet in the main event of a pay-per-view card emanating from Wembley Stadium in London.

After winning the IBF interim title in his most recent outing, an eighth-round TKO win over Filip Hrgovic, Dubois was elevated to full champion when the IBF stripped then-undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk for going through with his contractually-mandated rematch with Tyson Fury rather than fulfilling his obligation to face a mandatory challenger. In that way, many fans may view the fight with Joshua as for little more than a paper championship, with Usyk the true king of the heavyweight division.

The real prize for Dubois and Joshua may be cementing a position to challenge the winner of Usyk vs. Fury II in an undisputed title fight. Both men have lost to Usyk, with Dubois suffering an August 2023 TKO defeat and Joshua losing three world titles to Usyk in September 2021 and then losing the rematch the following August.

Both men have gotten their careers back on track following losing efforts against Usyk. Joshua won a lackluster decision over Jermaine Franklin Jr. before stoppages of Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin and, most recently, former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. That has positioned him to challenge Dubois, who scored a late stoppage of Jarrell Miller before his impressive win over Hrgovic.

Given their histories against Usyk, holding a world title is likely the only enticement for another shot at the champion, assuming Usyk defeats Fury in the rematch. Should Fury win, the door would be open for a British mega-fight with the Dubois vs. Joshua winner, with either man a fresh opponent for Fury and plenty of bitter history to draw on should the winner be Joshua.

Joshua has shown a reignited mean streak during his recent run and he has promised to bring that edge to the ring on Saturday.

Undercard Highlights

Elsewhere on the card, Hamzah Sheeraz looks to continue his dominant run on the prospect level when he takes on Tyler Denny at middleweight. The 25-year-old Brit is undefeated at 20-0 with 16 knockouts on his resume. Plus, heavy-handed junior lightweight Anthony Cacace gets another showcase opportunity when he takes on former featherweight champion Josh Warrington. The other notable fight on the undercard sees a light heavyweight contest between Joshua Buatsi and Willy Hutchinson.

Joshua Buatsi vs. Willy Hutchinson

The pair begrudgingly touch gloves to start the twelfth and final round. Both are going for it now, with the pair camped in the middle of the ring trading shots. Hutchinson misses with a pair of hooks only to then land a short uppercut. Buatsi quickly fires back with a stiff jab slap bang down the pipe.

Into the final minute and Hutchinson is the primary aggressor, but he’s fighting for pride. Buatsi has his guard up and seems more content to counter-punch in the dying seconds.

The bell rings and Buatsi’s corner are jubilant. Hutchinson also has his arms in the air, but he has no chance.

All credit to Willy Hutchinson because he is still plugging away and he has more than earned Joshua Buatsi’s respect. Even in the eleventh round, way up on the scorecards, Buatsi is choosing his shots carefully and isn’t rushing in for the sake of it.

One round remaining.

Just when you think he’s done, he comes back! Willy Hutchinson bites down on his gum shield and manfully plugs away. He begins to tire as the round goes on, though, and another flurry from Joshua Buatsi has him sidestepping across the ring. Buatsi follows him, goes in for the kill, misses, and almost hurtles through the ropes!

Even Buatsi has a smile on his face after that. The pair come together again and Hutchinson ends the round swinging wildly. He has two rounds left to survive but precious little chance of winning the fight.

Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Tyler Denny

Tyler Denny is the reigning European middleweight champion but heads into this fight with the rising star Hamzah Sheeraz as the underdog.

Denny, however, has said he views this fight as his opportunity to prove he is ready to step up to world level after impressive wins against the likes of Matteo Signani and Felix Cash.

“When I got the opportunity to fight him I couldn’t say yes quick enough. I was buzzing, this is my time now and I’m going to show everyone what I’m about,” Denny told Sky. “I want to show people why I’m the champion and to show why I want to move on to world level.”

A lot is expected from Queensberry rising star Sheeraz, who already boasts a 20-0 professional record at the age of 25. “I’m nothing like the last five fighters he has upset,” Sheeraz warned at this week’s pre-fight press conference.

We go to the scorecards…

113-112 Hutchinson.

WHAT?!

117-108 Buatsi.

115-110 Buatsi.

Joshua Buatsi has defeated Willy Hutchinson via a split decision.

That is an absolute nonsense. Hutchinson was knocked to the canvas twice and had a point deducted!

Joshua vs. Dubois: Prediction and Expert Pick

Heavyweight fights always carry the possibility that either man could have their hand raised after landing a single punch. Dubois is entirely capable of defeating Joshua, especially considering Joshua has turned in the occasionally uninspiring performance. One of those performances came when Joshua was shockingly knocked out by massive underdog Andy Ruiz Jr. in 2019. Dubois is a better fighter than Ruiz, which makes him a live underdog.

However, when Joshua is on his game, he is a patient assassin working behind a jab that utilizes his 82-inch reach until openings present for thudding power shots. The amount of power contained in any one Joshua shot was on display against Ngannou, who was melted by Joshua's right hand.

When you add Joshua's best qualities to Dubois' tendency to leave himself open defensively, it's easy to understand why Joshua enters this fight as the favorite. Dubois was caught by far too many of Hrgovic's power shots in a winning effort and Hrgovic doesn't carry the same power in his hands as Joshua.

Dubois is going to have to fight a near-perfect fight unless Joshua is off his game and there's no reason to think Dubois can be good enough defensively to avoid the fire Joshua will be throwing. Pick: Anthony Joshua via KO5