Joshua really seemed to be enjoying himself on Thursday when he addressed the media.

The 2012 Olympic gold medallist has put his career back on track following successive defeats against Oleksandr Usyk, winning four successive fights to get back in the world title picture.

Between 2016 and 2022, Joshua competed in 12 successive world title fights.

That run started when he beat American Charles Martin for the IBF belt and ended when he lost his rematch against Usyk, with the Ukrainian retaining the WBA (Super), WBO and IBF titles.

Gold is back on the line when he makes the walk to the ring later tonight.

Kal Sajad
BBC Sport at Wembley Stadium

I may have mentioned this in a live text before, but it's worth repeating.

A real 'pinch-me' moment in boxing for me was walking into a media room during the Usyk-Joshua II rematch and seeing Roberto Duran, Evander Holyfield and Prince Naseem Hamed sat together. I plucked up the courage to introduce myself and they couldn't have been any nicer.

It's not quite the same as me bumping into Joey Essex in my next Saudi trip, though.

Joshua says he has "been through a lot of pain" over the past two years and wants to make sure it was all worthwhile as he looks to join an elite group of fighters in becoming a three-time heavyweight champion.

A run of four successive wins has earned Joshua mandatory challenger status and he's in a much strong position physically and mentally after breaking down in tears following a second consecutive defeat against Oleksandr Usyk in August 2022.

"I've worked hard and been through a lot of pain, and I've worked hard to get better," he told BBC Sport.

"Hopefully those experiences won't happen again because as you saw that night, I don't like losing.

"I think I'm gifted with an ability to fight and compete.

"In boxing you're able to read certain tendencies, you're able to read your opponent, so I can always have an eye for that.

"But there's a supreme level that you can take it to. And it's happened over the past eight or 10 months. I've really honed in on those skills."

Read more here.

Liam Gallagher has disappeared back into hibernation until Oasis head on tour next year.

Now it's 'Sweet Caroline' belting out around Wembley.

You know what that means... we're getting close.

Heavyweight Frazer Clarke: "As heavy-handed as Dubois is and as good a fighter as he's becoming, I still have to go for Joshua. That's through no favouritism but my professional opinion that the experiences of Joshua and the magnitude of the fight is something which is a lot more normal to AJ than it is to Dubois.

"I'm not saying Dubois is going to bottle it under the lights, but it's going to be difficult. Joshua has been there, seen it and done it."

Former Joshua opponent Francis Ngannou: "Even though Joshua lost against Usyk twice and Dubois fought Usyk and almost knocked him down and almost won, I would still give this to Joshua."

Heavyweight Johnny Fisher: "I've had the privilege of sparring Dubois several times, and out of everyone I've sparred he's definitely the hardest puncher I've been in with. He's got a tough task, though. Joshua is proven and has fought on the biggest stage several times.

"But I make AJ only a slight favourite. The run of Dubois recently has been fantastic. He's in the ascendancy and Joshua is in a good bit of form too, so it will make for an even match-up."

Quiz time!

If Joshua wins tonight then he will become a three-time heavyweight champion of the world.

Only five fighters have ever managed to achieve that feat previously.

Can you name them?

We'll bring you the answer after the bout if AJ joins that group.

Get in touch using #bbcboxing on X, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply).

Image source, Getty Images

Getting the gameplan right is the key to success for both Dubois and Joshua tonight.

The heavyweight rivals are no strangers, they have sparred many rounds in the past and it's about trying to utilise any lessons learned during those sessions when they step into the ring.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast earlier today, former world champion George Groves assessed how Dubois finds a way beyond Joshua.

Groves said: "Dubois saying 'dog fight', in my opinion the understanding is he wants to make Joshua uncomfortable. He wants to force the pace, force the pressure knowing that if he can get something to land and stick, Joshua will unravel.

"We’ve seem Joshua unravel in the past but we’ve also seen him start to unravel then bring it back.

"Dog fight’ doesn’t really give too much away."

Steve

Image source, Getty Images

It's time for the season finale of 'Dubois Diaries'.

I can guess the question on all the tip of your tongue... will it be renewed for season two?

That might depend on whether Dubois comes through tonight's IBF heavyweight title defence successfully.

Image is key in the world of boxing and picking the right nickname - Bobcat if you're wondering - is a big call to get right at the start of your career.

Some, like Anthony Joshua, buck the trend and opt to go for it without a nickname.

Dubois was assigned the moniker 'Dangerous' by his promoters prior to his debut in 2017.

However, Queensberry's Dev Sahni was caught by surprise when he visited Dubois' changing room.

"I glanced at his shorts and it read 'Dynamite'," Sahni says.

"All the posters and everything with his nickname had gone out but thankfully 'Triple D' still worked."

Dubois weighed a career-heavy 17st 10lb when he stepped on to the scales in front of 6,000 fans at Trafalgar Square on Friday.

However, Joshua was still the heavier man, coming in at 18st, and he seemed to have the majority of those supporters on his side with chants of "AJ, AJ, AJ" cutting through when the pair were on the stage.

"I look at myself as a gladiator and I'm going to step into the arena tomorrow to perform for the people," Joshua said.

"I started late in boxing but it shows you can achieve anything. I'm not a warrior in the garden yet, I'm still on the battlefield."

Kal Sajad
BBC Sport at Wembley Stadium

I was privy to a conversation between a young fighter and his trainer after they weighed in for three surprise pro bouts during the open workouts at Wembley Arena

"What can I eat now? Anything?", the boxer asked outside a hotel. He was given a strict breakdown on macros and nutrients.

All the while, I was holding a brown paper bag with some well-known Portuguese chicken.

Kal Sajad
BBC Sport at Wembley Stadium

There was no power where I’m sitting. Luckily, I saw a socket behind me and I’m a master of improvisation. Security gave me a strange look for bringing black tape into the stadium. Now who’s laughing, eh?

Kevin jersey

Image source, Getty Images

Previously on 'Dubois Diaries' I mentioned that there had been a bit of friction between a youth coach and Daniel Dubois' father, Stan.

Reports of acrimony between Stan and trainers has continued into Dubois' professional career - he split with Shane McGuigan last year.

Stan has always wanted to be hands on and needs to work alongside a trainer who is willing to accommodate that kind of relationship.

Don Charles is the man currently responsible for training Dubois and seems happy enough to accept that Stan is going to be in the mix.

With Dubois struggling in the fourth round of his fight against Jarrell Miller in December, Queensberry promoter Frank Warren summoned Stan.

"I have never done anything like that before," Warren says. "The dad basically relayed Don's instructions and, suddenly, Daniel was up and running.

"Don is an excellent trainer but also very pragmatic and understood. That's the voice Daniel listens to, so it was just common sense to channel everything through the dad."

'Cigarettes & Alcohol' is the final song Liam Gallagher will perform tonight. He's even got his tambourine out!

Thumbs up if you managed to bag yourself some Oasis tickets, thumbs down if you didn't manage it.

Image source, Getty Images

Joshua has held the IBF belt twice in his career already. It was also the first world title he won as a pro at the tender age of 26.

Inside the O2 Arena in front of 17,000 people, he dismantled American Charles Martin in just two rounds. It was a destructive way to hit the big time.

If you look closely, you can spot a baby faced Eddie Hearn among the celebrations. Can AJ do it all again tonight?

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Ready for part two in this fine series of 'Dubois Diaries'?

A career in boxing seemed like the only option for Daniel Dubois and his sister Caroline, who is the interim WBC lightweight champion.

Their father Stan, who also goes by the name Dave, was a market trader from Camden and drilled boxing training into the two siblings during their formative years.

"I was their system. I was their school teacher. I was their leader," Dubois Sr told Seconds Out in a rare interview.

Stan wanted to fast-track his son's progression as he moved between several London amateur clubs, having stints at Repton, Dale Youth, Lynn, West Ham, Fisher and Islington.

Dubois Sr's ruthlessness, however, was not without its critics.

"Daniel was a genuine boy. He tried hard and listened a lot, although he used to listen to his dad a lot as well," says former Dale Youth head coach Mick Delaney.

Delaney recalls one occasions when Stan took a 16-year-old Dubois for a sparring session with professional Derek Chisora, who was 14 years his senior, instead of reporting for a pre-planned sparring session.

The trainer added that he told Stan he would need to "sit in the back" if he insists coming to the gym.

Well, that didn't work out too well for Delaney because, just as he was preparing Dubois for a senior championships, Dubois' mother called to say her son had switched gyms.

Tony, Sunderland

'Supersonic' is now belting around Wembley. Heard this one in my dad's car a few times when I was a child.