6’6″ Anthony Joshua towered over the 6’5″ IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois during today’s face-off in their kickoff press conference to promote their September 21st fight at Wembley Stadium in London.
Joshua, 34, looked not only taller but considerably heavier than Dubois (21-2, 20 KOs), which suggests that he could come into the fight in the mid-250s, which could affect his stamina if the fight goes beyond the early rounds.
AJ must be stronger and more fit for this fight than in his recent four pick-me-up contests against lesser opposition because Dubois possesses power and heart. Those ingredients were sorely missing from the last four opponents that promoter Eddie Hearn lined up for Joshua to knock over.
Questionable Perceptions of Joshua’s Recent Form
Interestingly, few fans are giving Dubois, 26, a chance in this fight, basing their views on how good Joshua has looked recently. What fans are overlooking is the opposition that Joshua has been fighting. He’s been facing guys that Dubois and many contenders would destroy with the same ease.
Joshua’s last four opponents:
- Francis Ngannou: Former UFC champion coming off a loss
- Robert Helenius: 40-year-old journeyman knocked out in 1st round by Deontay Wilder in 2022
- Otto Wallin: An out-of-shape career fringe contender with little power
- Jermaine Franklin: Coming off a defeat against Dillian Whyte
Those fights were designed to bring Joshua back from the brink after his consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and 2022. You can’t fault Hearn for matching Joshua so weakly, but fans need to be aware that AJ’s glittering performances are due in large part to him facing cans that any of the top ten contenders would blow through with the same ease.
Dubois’ Tough Road to the Top
In contrast, Dubois has had it a lot tougher, going through this murderer’s row of fighters:
- Filip Hrgovic
- Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller
- Oleksandr Usyk