Anthony Joshua has opened up about the “lot of pain” he has endured over the past two years as he prepares for his upcoming fight against fellow British heavyweight Daniel Dubois on Saturday. The 34-year-old Joshua is aiming to reclaim his status as a three-time world champion in this highly anticipated bout.
Joshua, who is set to face the IBF belt-holder Dubois, 27, will do so before a record-breaking crowd of 96,000 fans at Wembley Stadium—setting a post-war attendance record for a British boxing event. The fight marks a significant milestone in Joshua’s comeback journey.
Following his emotional defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in August 2022, where he lost for the second time in a row, Joshua experienced a period of intense struggle and reflection. He admitted to BBC Sport that the experience was particularly hard-hitting. “I’ve worked hard and been through a lot of pain, and I’ve worked hard to get better,” Joshua said. “Hopefully those experiences won’t happen again because as you saw that night, I don’t like losing.”
Despite these setbacks, Joshua has managed to turn his career around. He is currently on a four-fight winning streak and secured a notable victory by knocking out Francis Ngannou in his most recent match. Joshua attributed his resurgence to a sharpened focus on his skills and abilities. “I think I’m gifted with an ability to fight and compete,” he explained. “In boxing, you’re able to read certain tendencies and your opponent’s movements, so I can always keep an eye on that. But there’s a supreme level you can reach, and I’ve really honed in on those skills over the past eight to ten months.”
As he prepares for this high-stakes fight, Joshua’s determination to overcome his past difficulties and regain his championship status is clear.
Joshua and Dubois met face-to-face on Monday at a media event held at London’s Old Billingsgate, with the iconic Tower Bridge in the background, marking the start of fight week. Joshua, who is set to headline a UK stadium fight for the sixth time, approached the press day with his usual calm demeanor. After a tense stare-down, he mingled with the crowd, posing for photos and even obliging a fan with a hug.
Dubois, on the other hand, seemed somewhat impatient to move past the media obligations. This face-off was their first public interaction since a June news conference, where tensions flared and Joshua had threatened to throw a chair at Dubois during a private confrontation.
Reflecting on that earlier encounter, 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.”
Joshua is aiming to join the ranks of heavyweight legends such as Muhammad Ali, Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield, and Vitali Klitschko by becoming a three-time world champion. Although a highly anticipated bout with Tyson Fury may be on the horizon, Joshua remains focused on his current opponent.
“He is a good fighter, a brilliant fighter,” Joshua acknowledged. “Everyone speaks highly of him. I think they underestimate me as well, so I will go out there and prove how good I am.”
