Joshua to fight Dubois for world title at Wembley

Anthony Joshua will look chap Briton Daniel Dubois for nan IBF heavyweight title astatine Wembley Stadium connected 21 September.

Undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk vacated nan belt connected Tuesday and interim champion Dubois, 26, was elevated to champion position arsenic a result.

Two-time world champion Joshua, 34, is connected a four-fight winning streak and has 3 stoppages successful his past 3 bouts.

Dubois has won his past 2 fights, stopping Jarrell Miller successful December and Filip Hrgovic this period to go interim champion.

Ukrainian Usyk initially requested that he not beryllium stripped of nan IBF loop truthful nan undisputed title could stay connected nan statement erstwhile he faces Britain's Tyson Fury successful a rematch connected 21 December, but past changed his mind.

"Anthony and Daniel, I cognize nan IBF title is important to you. It is my coming to you connected 21 September," Usyk said successful a video connection connected X.

Dubois mislaid successful arguable manner to Usyk successful August successful his first bid to triumph a world title.

Dubois floored Usyk successful nan 5th information pinch what nan referee deemed a debased blow, earlier losing by stoppage successful nan ninth.

Dubois has won 21 of his 23 fights, while Joshua has 28 victories and 3 losses. They person a mixed 45 knockouts.

It will beryllium be nan first clip since Fury's triumph complete Dillian Whyte successful December 2022 that Wembley will big boxing.

Joshua will beryllium making his 4th quality location - and 3rd arsenic a headliner - while Dubois will conflict successful a main arena astatine a 60,000-plus venue for nan first time.

The victor will put themselves successful premier position to conflict nan victor of Usyk-Fury.

BBC Sport journalist Kal Sajad

From Joe Bugner v Henry Cooper to Lennox Lewis v Frank Bruno, location is thing a small spot typical astir an all-British heavyweight tussle.

This 1 is nary different arsenic it marks nan return of big-time stadium showdowns to nan UK.

Joshua will compete connected location ungraded aft his wins complete Otto Wallin and Francis Ngannou successful Saudi Arabia. Dubois’ erstwhile 2 bouts were besides successful Riyadh.

There are fewer much knowledgeable 26-year-old heavyweights than Dubois, and he has travel a agelong measurement since a stoppage conclusion successful nan 10th information astatine nan hands of Joe Joyce successful 2020.

Dubois battled cruel disapproval afterwards arsenic immoderate labelled him a quitter, pinch doctors saying he could person mislaid his eyesight had nan conflict continued.

He mightiness beryllium a world champion for nan first time, but his position arsenic specified will only beryllium genuinely confirmed erstwhile he takes connected Joshua.

The losses to Joyce and Usyk are firmly a point of nan past - Dubois is invigorated aft nan triumph complete Hrgovic, contempt being nan underdog, and will consciousness he has nan powerfulness to topple Joshua and go Britain’s poster boy of nan division.

But Joshua is besides enjoying a resurgence and, pinch 3 consecutive stoppage victories, nan 2012 Olympic aureate boy has gone immoderate measurement to silencing his critics.