Summary

  • News conference before Anthony Joshua fights Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium on Saturday

  • All-British heavyweight fight for IBF world title

  • Dubois says he needs to 'legitimise' himself by retaining the title

  • 'I'll break him down,' insists Joshua as he bids to become three-time world champion

  • Record sell-out crowd of 96,000 expected at the bout

  • Get Involved - #bbcboxing, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

  1. That's all folks!published at 20:50 British Summer Time 19 September

    Anthony Joshua and Daniel DuboisImage source, Getty Images

    That's day one of three in the bag as far as our live text coverage of this fight week goes.

    As is the case with most news conferences, there wasn't a lot to get excited about.

    It's only three months since we saw Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua hold their first news conference at Ovo Arena, Wembley.

    As Kal mentioned earlier, this is the time when we all become body language experts and it looked to me like Joshua, a man who has been here and done it before, was the more comfortable, although Dubois isn't exactly known for opening up on these types of occasions.

    Anyway, there looks to be a good bit of needle between some of the fighters on the undercard, with Ishmael Davis and Josh Kelly trading jibes, while Willy Hutchinson was doing his best to try and get a rise out of Joshua Buatsi.

    We'll see them (and hopefully you) again tomorrow when we have live text coverage of the weigh-ins.

  2. Time to votepublished at 20:48 British Summer Time 19 September

    Dubois v Joshua

    BBC Sport vote on who will win the fight between Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua

    A reminder that you still have time to cast your vote on what you think the outcome of Saturday's main event will be.

    You can find the vote in any of the stories promoting Daniel Dubois v Anthony Joshua.

    If you're struggling, then click here, scroll down the page and you'll be able to have your say.

  3. Will we see Fury v Joshua in 2025?published at 20:46 British Summer Time 19 September

    Kal Sajad
    BBC Sport journalist at Guildhall, London

    It wouldn’t be an Anthony Joshua fight week without talk of a certain Tyson Fury, who is expected to be in Wembley on fight night.

    With so many years of failed negotiation, we are all a little tired of talking about it.

    Sure, good things come to those who wait. But let’s not wait until both fighters are in retirement homes, eh?

    There is new found hope though.

    Even if Fury loses his rematch to Oleksandr Usyk in December, Saudi organisers are confident Joshua-Fury will happen in 2025. As long as Joshua beats Dubois on Saturday. And that is not a given.

  4. Biggest British boxing crowdspublished at 20:42 British Summer Time 19 September

    Graph showing biggest attendances at boxing events in UK
  5. Wembley's biggest fightspublished at 20:40 British Summer Time 19 September

    We are lucky to have a venue in England that is capable of hosting major events and Wembley will have a British-record 96,000 - that's a number you're going to be hearing a lot over the next few days - fans in attendance on Saturday.

    It's some jump since 2014 when 80,000 watched Carl Froch earn a knockout win in his rematch against George Groves at Wembley.

    Enjoy some highlights from the three biggest fights to ever take place at the national stadium.

  6. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 20:36 British Summer Time 19 September

    #bbcboxing, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    I wish people would stop with this 3 time world champion nonsense. You can’t compare it with Ali etc. Usyk unifies it for the first time in 25 years and within 10 seconds one of the alphabets strips him. Neither fighter deserves this - there should be one weight one champion, and until the politics and greed stop this from happening boxing will continue its decline.

    Anonymous

  7. Why Joshua can beat anybody in the world - Eubank Jrpublished at 20:31 British Summer Time 19 September

    Dubois v Joshua

    Chris Eubank Jr
    British middleweight boxer

    When you are a marquee name like Anthony Joshua, there is no 'this is it'.

    'AJ' is a maverick. He has been able to do things nobody has done. He has paved the way for other fighters.

    He could lose to Daniel Dubois on Saturday and everybody would still want to see him fight Tyson Fury. That will not change.

    Of course, defeat will be damaging to Joshua's reputation and career but it is not something he could not bounce back from. He has done it before.

    To keep the momentum and wider interest in the bigger fights going, however, he has to win, and I think he will.

    Joshua is too experienced, too strong and his boxing IQ will be too high for Dubois. It is a cliche but there are levels to the game and Joshua is just a few too many levels above Dubois.

    The exciting thing about heavyweight boxing, though, is that they are so big, strong and powerful that even when there are levels, all it takes is one punch and it is over.

    Read Chris Eubank Jr's full column here.

  8. Can AJ be three-time?published at 20:24 British Summer Time 19 September

    Anthony Joshua is looking to join an elite group of fighters by becoming a three-time heavyweight champion of the world on Saturday.

    As you can see from the list of those who have achieved it previously, he could join some top-tier company.

    • Muhammad Ali
    • Michael Moorer
    • Evander Holyfield
    • Lennox Lewis
    • Vitali Klitschko
  9. Pro bouts at open workoutpublished at 20:16 British Summer Time 19 September

    Kal Sajad
    BBC Sport journalist at Guildhall, London

    Aadam Hamed throws a punch at Santiago GarcesImage source, Matchroom

    Boxing fans were treated to three surprise bouts after Wednesday’s open workout.

    There were wins for Aadam Hamed, who is the son of legend Prince Naseem Hamed, and fellow Britons Cameron Vuong and Chris Kongo.

    Tickets were free, although there wasn't a huge turnout.

    Pro bouts at an open workout is something the Saudi organisers did for a card in Los Angeles last month, but it was a first for British boxing.

  10. Joshua and Dubois face-offpublished at 20:10 British Summer Time 19 September

    Anthony Joshua and Daniel DuboisImage source, Matchroom

    That's all from the news conference and now just the face-off to bring an end to this evening's event.

    They really are two huge men!

    No drama here as they stand half a foot from each other for around a minute and then pose for pictures.

  11. Postpublished at 20:06 British Summer Time 19 September

    Dubois v Joshua

    Anthony Joshua on how he will feel when making the ringwalk:

    "Many greats have walked it before, the undercard will walk it and I'll feel like everyone else.

    "When I step into the ring, that's when I switch on and I'm ready. I'm not interested in the ringwalk, that's just getting to the location to do my job.

    "Once I'm in the ring I'll be ready. 110%."

  12. Postpublished at 20:04 British Summer Time 19 September

    Dubois v Joshua

    Anthony Joshua is asked about the incident when he had to be separated from Daniel Dubois in June.

    Joshua says: "You should never let anyone take an inch because they'll end up taking a mile, you know what I mean Dan?"

    Dubois replies: "Sorry?"

  13. Postpublished at 20:00 British Summer Time 19 September

    Dubois v Joshua

    Daniel Dubois on how it will feel walking out in front of 96,000 at Wembley:

    "Like I've taken it many times before, this time it's just a bigger stage so the energy will be higher."

  14. 'Break him down'published at 19:58 British Summer Time 19 September

    Dubois v Joshua

    Daniel Dubois is asked how he wins the fight:

    "I'm not predicting anything."

    Joshua says: "I could win in a variety of ways. I'm not depending on punch power. It takes a lot more than that to be a great fighter. I have the fighter spirit and I'll break him down."

    Asked about the chance to be a three-time champion: "The accolades come later. I'll be back home on Sunday eating the same breakfast, putting laundry in the basket and going to the same local gym.

    "I'm a competitive person and I've got competition to deal with on Saturday."

  15. 'Cracked me with a great shot'published at 19:56 British Summer Time 19 September

    Dubois v Joshua

    Next up comes a question about claims that Daniel Dubois put Anthony Joshua on the canvas when they sparred earlier in their careers.

    Joshua, with a smile on his face, says: "He cracked me with a great shot and it's my chance to get him back on Saturday. I'm looking forward to it. We've sparred hundreds of rounds."

    Dubois says: "It was sparring. Now we're fighting, this is different."

    "Move on," he adds as he slaps the table.

    "I'm ready to go and ready to fight."

  16. 'I'm tough and so is he'published at 19:54 British Summer Time 19 September

    Dubois v Joshua

    Anthony Joshua says:

    "I showed Daniel and his team the respect they deserve through fight camp and that will stand me in good stead on Saturday.

    "I'm tough and so is he.

    "May the best man win. Good luck to Daniel and his team.

    "One thing I said when I started boxing was that I wanted to bring British heavyweight boxing back and I think I've done that."

  17. 'Need to legitimise myself'published at 19:52 British Summer Time 19 September

    Dubois v Joshua

    Daniel Dubois said he didn't want to answer any further questions after he finished speaking earlier, but that wouldn't make for a very good news conference!

    He's pushed for a bit more:

    "I need to retain this world title. It's a great thing to have but I need to legitimise myself by winning this fight."

  18. 'Dubois is a bigger puncher'published at 19:48 British Summer Time 19 September

    Dubois v Joshua

    Frank WarrenImage source, Matchroom

    Queensberry's Frank Warren, who promotes Daniel Dubois: "We are going to see something special. For me, there's nothing better than two Brits in a competitive fight.

    "I believe Daniel [Dubois] will show what he is about. I've believed in him from day one. He's come through trials and tribulations and is going to keep that belt.

    "He will prove he is the IBF champion.

    "Dubois is a bigger puncher than AJ, he's mobile and one thing is for sure - don't blink in this fight."

  19. Postpublished at 19:46 British Summer Time 19 September

    Anthony Joshua is looking super focused. He's been here many times before and certainly won't be intimated by the attention on him this week.

    He's still got that AirPod in and just seems to be staring into the abyss while promoter Eddie Hearn, sat just to his left, begins speaking.

  20. 'Legacy awaits'published at 19:43 British Summer Time 19 September

    Dubois v Joshua

    Eddie HearnImage source, Matchroom

    Matchroom's Eddie Hearn, who promotes Anthony Joshua: "Two dangerous British heavyweights fighting for a world title.

    "Saturday will be special. A three-time heavyweight champion, something Muhammad Ali and Lennox Lewis achieved.

    "Joshua is focusing on the performance but legacy awaits.

    "I've never seen him so calculated and so confident."