'I’m a king slayer' – champion Dubois tells Joshua

Daniel Dubois described himself arsenic nan "king slayer" and promised to "train for illustration a beast" for his world-title defence against Anthony Joshua.

The British heavyweights will fight for Dubois' IBF belt astatine a 90,000-capacity Wembley Stadium connected 21 September.

Dubois, 26, held nan interim title and was elevated to world champion aft Oleksandr Usyk vacated nan belt.

"I’m aiming to beryllium nan best. AJ has been nan king for a agelong clip but connected nan nighttime I request to beryllium nan king slayer," he said.

Joshua, 34, was arsenic measured arsenic ever successful his responses arsenic nan 2 Londoners came face-to-face astatine a news convention astatine Wembley's OVO Stadium connected Wednesday.

"I've been having Dubois connected my mind for a while and he’ll beryllium connected my mind for nan adjacent 12 weeks," Joshua – aiming to go a three-time world champion – said.

On Tuesday, Usyk – who held each 4 recognised world titles – announced he would vacate nan IBF belt.

The Ukrainian is group to look Tyson Fury successful a rematch successful December and truthful incapable to look mandatory challenger Dubois.

Pyrotechnics lit up nan arena arsenic Dubois, donning a waistcoat, and nan comparatively casual Joshua successful a t-shirt and joggers, made their entrance.

The grounds books whitethorn database Dubois arsenic a world champion but he said he would alternatively person won nan title successful nan ringing erstwhile he hit Filip Hrgovic for nan interim title connected 1 June.

A triumph complete Joshua, however, will gain nan Londoner nickname among nan boxing fraternity.

"I’m fresh to fto my fists do nan talking. I’m 100% fresh to go, focussed and to train for illustration a beast," he said.

Joshua has earned 4 consecutive victories since losing to Usyk successful 2022.

The London 2012 Olympic golden medallist is 8 years older than his opponent, but dismissed immoderate proposal that could play a portion successful nan outcome.

"I consciousness fresh. But I don't drink, I don't smoke, that's my only advice. Thank God I don’t get into antics extracurricular of boxing," he said.

While bouts against Fury and Deontay Wilder person not yet materialised, Joshua said Dubois has ever been connected his radar.

"I cognize nan game, we're successful nan wild, we're a battalion of lions," he said. "I can't conscionable attraction connected them 2 I’ve sewage to support my eyes peeled."

The large players successful British boxing took to nan shape arsenic erstwhile foes Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn were joined by chap promoters Ben Shalom of Boxxer and Wasserman main Kalle Sauerland.

"This is astir apt nan astir stacked paper successful British boxing history," Queensberry's Warren said, while Matchroom’s Hearn described it arsenic nan "biggest night" nan athletics has ever seen successful nan country.

Joshua and Dubois will compete connected location territory aft back-to-back wins for some men successful Saudi Arabia.

The paper is still being funded by nan energy-rich kingdom, pinch Turki Alalshikh, president of Saudi Arabia's wide intermezo authority, nan man credited for making it happen.

Saudi Arabia has invested heavily to go nan location of big-time boxing, but critics reason it has been done to deflect attraction from a mediocre quality authorities record.

The news convention has been successful nan readying for a fewer weeks, yet media only received confirmation of nan arena astatine 19:20 BST connected Tuesday.

Despite nan precocious notice, location was a immense turnout: testament to nan card, lure of Joshua and an all-British heavyweight world title fight.

Undercard combatant Liam Smith – a erstwhile world champion – said he had been dreaming of 1 time fighting connected an 'AJ' paper astatine Wembley Stadium. Middleweight Hamzah Sheeraz called it an honour.

It was a cordial affair, arsenic expected. Trash talking does not travel people to nan reserved Dubois, though location were reports nan 2 heavyweights fought verbally during filming earlier nan news conference.

At nan apical table, they fto in-ring performances do nan talking. Joshua boasts 25 knockouts successful 28 wins and Dubois has stopped 20 opponents successful 21 victories.

"Do not blink," promoter Frank Warren advised fans.

Joshua and Fury will not beryllium astir forever. Dubois is simply a seasoned campaigner contempt his age, and a triumph for nan Londoner successful September could beryllium considered a passing of nan torch.

But Joshua is utilized to being nan prima attraction; nan unit is thing new, yet he is afloat alert a triumph complete Dubois will group him up to look nan victor of Usyk-Fury and execute his undisputed dream.