History of the band
Here’s how Dubois and Joshua stack up ahead of tonight’s main event. The challenger is 2.5 cm taller and 10 cm longer in reach. The difference in experience between the fighters also seems to benefit Joshua: This is his 13th world championship fight and only the second for Dubois.
Important events
Round 2
Dubois keeps the pressure on and Joshua is in big trouble with plenty of time left until the second round! Dubois is very close to Joshua, who is desperately holding on. Joshua is staggering and Dubois can’t seem to miss with his jab. Dubois is putting Joshua under pressure in the clinches. Joshua manages to get back to his feet as Dubois slows down a bit. Joshua lands a right hook. Easy round for Dubois, who has been a threat for six blistering minutes.
Unofficial result from the Guardian: Dubois 10-9 Joshua (Dubois 20-17 Joshua)
Joshua is down in the first round!
Round 1
Here we go. Joshua in all white trunks, Dubois in black. Dubois is on the rise almost immediately, taking the center of the ring and boxing behind an active jab. And Dubois lands a hard combination that staggers Joshua. Joshua grabs Dubois and the referee warns Dubois… for going head first. Dubois warns again. Pretty hard. Joshua lands a crisp uppercut. And Dubois lands a massive overhand right towards the end of the round and Joshua goes down! Unbelievable! Joshua manages to get to his feet but is saved by the bell!
Unofficial result from the Guardian: Dubois 10-8 Joshua (Dubois 10-8 Joshua)
The fighters were announced by ring announcer Michael Buffer. Final instructions have been given by referee Marcus McDonnell, seconds have expired and we’ll continue with lap by lap coverage from here!
Time for “God save the king”. Sounds like every one of the 96,000 paying ticket holders is participating. That’s really nice!
Both fighters are in the ring. Now it’s time for the national anthem of Saudi Arabia. Of course.
The fighters do their ring walks! First, it’s Dubois, who makes the long walk to the ring in a simple black tunic with a monogram on the chest to 50 Cent’s In da Club. He looks relaxed and confident as he approaches the ring and climbs through the ropes while fireworks are set off from the roof of the stadium.
Now it’s Joshua who emerges in a traditional white robe with black trim and black sequins on the shoulders, while Jay-Z’s Public Service Announcement blares at a deafening volume from the stadium sound system. The man looks focused as he walks down the long, illuminated catwalk leading to the ring. Absolute scenes.
A crowd of 96,000 people sings “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond at the top of their lungs. Opinions may differ as to what one thinks of this sacred ritual of British fight night, but there is no denying the intensity of this spectacle on this scale.
Liam Gallagher ends his set with “Cigarettes & Alcohol” and the fighters’ performances should follow next. Say what you will about Saudi Arabia’s injection of money into boxing, but no one can deny the production values.
History of the band
Here’s how Dubois and Joshua stack up ahead of tonight’s main event. The challenger is 2.5 cm taller and 10 cm longer in reach. The difference in experience between the fighters also seems to benefit Joshua: This is his 13th world championship fight and only the second for Dubois.
Liam Gallagher’s pre-fight performance on a stage in the middle of the pitch is underway. He opened with Rock ‘n’ Roll Star before going to Supersonic. A bit of pre-scouting for Oasis dates here in 10 months?
The stars are ready for the big fight tonight. Meanwhile, Liam Gallagher has just come out of the tunnel at Wembley to make a pre-fight appearance.
Our Donald McRae was at the weigh-in at Trafalgar Square on Fridaywhere Dubois and Joshua faced each other one last time.
“I’m just ready to fight,” Anthony Joshua said earlier this month as he looked ahead to his fight against Daniel Dubois on Saturday night at Wembley Stadium. Dubois sat across from Joshua at a table in a television studio and, in a nod to the often staged drama that pre-fight broadcasts are designed to generate, he coolly looked at his more famous opponent and said: “Let’s go.”
His promoter Frank Warren, who was sitting next to Dubois, smiled and added a little warning to ease the sudden tension: “But let’s wait until the 21st.” Dubois ignored Warren for once and continued: “If he wants to swing, let’s go now.”
“Shut up,” Joshua snapped. “Relax.” Dubois looked pretty relaxed, but he wasn’t about to drop his provocative invitation. “If you want to go now,” he said, glaring at Joshua, “then let’s go.”
Joshua, who is usually criticized for being too sterile and almost businesslike in his public appearances, reacted with unusual vehemence and foul language. “I’m going to smash this damn chair in your face,” he warned Dubois. “Be respectful to me.”
“You can’t intimidate me,” Dubois replied. “Who do you think you are?”
preamble
Hello and welcome to Wembley Stadium for tonight’s all-British heavyweight title fight between Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua. A post-war record crowd of around 96,000 is expected for this highly anticipated fight for the IBF version of the heavyweight title that until recently belonged to Oleksandr Usyk. The title was until recently held in boxing’s prestigious division by Oleksandr Usyk, who regained the long-disputed title by defeating Tyson Fury in May. Due to the sport’s broken mandatory challenger system, the title was vacated by Usyk and essentially emailed to Dubois, who will defend it tonight against Joshua, who has already lost twice to Usyk.
If you’re confused, you’re not alone. But all the anagrams aside, we’re in for a real tough battle and have a lot to look forward to.
Joshua, who weighed in at 252.5 pounds at Friday’s weigh-in in Trafalgar Square and is competing in a title fight for the first time since his second loss to Usyk in August 2022, described himself as a “gladiator” preparing for the fight.
“If I can ask you one favor, go home tonight and pray for me that I will succeed tomorrow and become a three-time heavyweight champion of the world,” Joshua told the crowd. “I see myself as a gladiator and I will step into the arena tomorrow to perform in front of the people who love blood, guts and glory.”
Dubois, who set a career high of 248.6 pounds (119 kg), was equally confident despite being the underdog.
“It’s time to get in the ring and fight,” he said. “Let’s go. I’ve worked hard. There’s a lot of work and training involved and I’m ready to go. A win by any means necessary.”
The final preliminary fight is complete after Hamzah Sheeraz defeated Tyler Denny in two rounds to win the European middleweight title. Next up: Dubois vs. Joshua.
Bryan will be here shortly. In the meantime, here is Donald McRae’s preview of tonight’s main event.
