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Anthony Joshua says he has “been through a lot of pain” over the past two years as he prepares to face fellow British heavyweight Daniel Dubois in a bid to become a three-time world champion. The 34-year-old is set to challenge IBF belt-holder Dubois, 27, in front of a record-breaking 96,000 fans at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.
Joshua, who lost back-to-back fights to Oleksandr Usyk in 2022, has since rebuilt his career and worked his way back to the position of mandatory challenger. Speaking to BBC Sport, the former Olympic gold medallist reflected on his journey, saying, “I’ve worked hard and been through a lot of pain, and I’ve worked hard to get better. Hopefully, those experiences won’t happen again because as you saw that night, I don’t like losing.”
Joshua is currently riding a four-fight winning streak, with his most recent victory being a knockout of Francis Ngannou. He credits his recent focus and growth in the sport, stating, “In boxing, you’re able to read certain tendencies, you’re able to read your opponent, so I can always have an eye for that. But there’s a supreme level that you can take it to. And it’s happened over the past eight or 10 months. I’ve really honed in on those skills.”
As fight week kicks off, Joshua and Dubois met face-to-face during a media day in London. The two previously had a heated exchange at a June press conference, where Joshua threatened to throw a chair at Dubois. Reflecting on the altercation, Joshua said, “I was just basically saying ‘stay in your lane.’ I don’t expect respect from him, but I’m ready to earn my respect from him.”
While many anticipate a future showdown between Joshua and Tyson Fury, the two-time world champion remains focused on the task at hand. “He [Dubois] is a good fighter, a brilliant fighter,” Joshua said. “Everyone speaks highly of him. I think they underestimate me as well, so I will go out there and prove how good I am.”
Victory on Saturday would place Joshua among heavyweight legends like Muhammad Ali, Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield, and Vitali Klitschko, as he aims to claim his third world title.
