Daniel Dubois looking to the future rather than shared history with Anthony Joshua

Officially, Daniel Dubois is the IBF heavyweight champion.

The 26-year-old Londoner is, however, continuing to talk like a challenger. Dubois insists that he wants to knock Anthony Joshua off his “pedestal” when they meet at Wembley Stadium on September 21. 

In June, Dubois, 21-2 (20 KOs), ground down the highly rated Filip Hrgovic to win the interim version of the IBF title. His bruises were probably just about healed when, three weeks later, Oleksandr Usyk elected to vacate his full title in order to concentrate on his rematch with Tyson Fury.

The great Ukrainian’s decision meant that Dubois was instantly upgraded and he will make the first defense of his title against former two-time unified champion, Joshua, 28-3 (25 KOs).

“It’s been called and it was delivered and here we are now. Go through the next one, onto the next and on the door of greatness,” Dubois told Queensberry.

“These big nights and topping a bill with a major elite fighter. A guy that’s been up there for a long time. Now I feel it’s the right time to knock him off that pedestal and take the front.”

Joshua has achieved so much that it would be laughable to suggest that Dubois’ has loomed over his career but ever since Frank Warren plucked Dubois from the amateurs as a raw but powerful teenager, there have been unanswered questions about what exactly happened between the two when they sparred at Team GB’s headquarters in Sheffield years ago.

At the time Dubois made his debut, Joshua was just three weeks away from his career-defining victory over Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium and the two seemed so far apart that although they created eye-catching headlines, the rumors were, really, meaningless. 

Suddenly, the potential consequences of Dubois landing his right hand on Joshua’s chin are much more serious. 

Before they met in the ring, Hrgovic took every opportunity possible to remind Dubois of some uncomfortable sparring sessions. The poking and prodding had entirely the opposite effect Hrgovic had hoped for. Rather than having sleepless nights about the past, a clearly angry Dubois used the memories and jibes as fuel.

This time, Dubois is the one with the sparring ammunition but whether he has learned from Hrgovic’s mistake or whether he doesn’t feel the need to remind Joshua of the past, Dubois is keeping his powder dry. 

“It’s all about what’s going to happen now in the fight and I’m really focused on it,” Dubois said. “I’m really ready to go. Sparring is sparring. That happened seven years ago. I don’t want to talk about that or whatever happened there. I’m a different fighter and I’ve been through my ups and downs and just on to the next now.”

Dubois doesn’t particularly care if Joshua thinks he learned anything from the time they spent in the ring. 

“Who knows, man. That’s seven years ago. [I’m a] different guy now. Harder punching, stronger and stronger willed and that’s what this battle is going to come down to ; the spirit and the will of each fighter,” he said.

“I need to stay right, stay positive and stay in a good vibe in camp and onwards from now.”

Dubois’s stoppage of Hrgovic was one of the most stirring heavyweight performances for some time. His stoppage losses to Joe Joyce and Usyk led many to write him off as a fighter unwilling to force himself through self doubt and physical pain, but he bit down on his mouthpiece and walked Hrgovic down. As right hand after right hand bounced off his chin, Dubois grew in self belief and broke Hrgovic mentally and physically.

The danger in employing a similar tactic against Joshua is that he may not get the chance to grow accustomed to the power. Hrgovic is a talented fighter but Joshua hits harder and faster and is more inclined to follow up his success quickly.

“I won’t take them shots. Hrgovic is completely different to AJ,” Dubois said. “The way he throws his shots is smooth. He’s light. He’s quick. He don’t load up on anything. It took me a while to get the hang of it but once I found a way to deal with it, if you look at the fight properly I was slipping – just subtly sometimes – and doing what I had to do to win.

“That’s what I’m going to have to do again. Break Joshua up, break what’s in front of me down and get the victory by any means necessary.”