Choose It: Daniel Dubois-Anthony Joshua
When to Watch: Saturday, September 21, 10:30am Japanese Time (3:30pm BST).
Easy methods to watch: Pay-per-view on DAZN and PPV.com.
Why to Watch: Certain, everybody is aware of the actual heavyweight champion is Oleksandr Usyk, and that the most important heavyweight battle on the schedule is Usyk’s rematch in December with Tyson Fury.
However this match between Dubois and Joshua is a giant occasion nonetheless – a battle between a pair of towering heavyweights in London that may happen in entrance of a large crowd at Wembley Stadium.
They may battle for Dubois’ IBF world title. The belt was stripped from Usyk earlier this 12 months as a result of his obligations to face Fury meant he was unable to defend it towards his necessary challenger.
The 6ft 5ins Dubois put collectively a pair of excellent wins to place himself on this place. In December, he stopped the beforehand unbeaten contender Jarrell Miller within the remaining seconds of the ultimate spherical; he then scored an eighth-round technical knockout of the beforehand unbeaten contender Filip Hrgovic in June for the interim IBF belt. That introduced him to 21-2 (20 KOs).
He’s recovered from losses that might have been important setbacks.
Dubois was counted out towards Joe Joyce within the tenth spherical of their bout in 2020; he went down to at least one knee after struggling a fractured eye socket. Dubois bounced again with 4 wins, together with stoppages of Trevor Bryan and Kevin Lerena. Within the latter, Dubois visited the canvas himself 3 times within the first spherical after a leg harm however was in a position to put Lerena away within the third.
That introduced Dubois into 2023’s problem of Usyk for 3 world titles. That is the bout wherein a shot Dubois landed continues to be debated – was it a authorized blow on the beltline or an unintentional foul that veered low? Usyk wound up stopping Dubois within the ninth.
The 27-year-old Dubois might nonetheless wind up with a rematch towards Usyk, relying on what occurs on Saturday and in December.
Joshua, who stands 6ft 6ins, had a pair of tumbles with Usyk himself – dropping a unanimous determination in September 2021 and a break up determination of their rematch in August 2022.
That first Usyk battle was the final time Joshua held heavyweight titles.
Joshua had picked up his first world title, of the IBF, with a 2016 demolition of Charles Martin. Then got here six profitable defenses – and he added the WBA and WBO belts alongside the way in which with victories over Wladimir Klitschko and Joseph Parker.
Joshua misplaced these titles when he was surprised by Andy Ruiz by way of seventh-round technical knockout in June 2019. He quickly regained them, although, by boxing his solution to victory of their rematch in December 2019. Then Joshua beat Kubrat Pulev a 12 months later, which led to his first battle with Usyk.
Within the two years because the rematch with Usyk, Joshua has outpointed Jermaine Franklin and scored knockouts of Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin and Francis Ngannou. The 34 12 months outdated enters this bout with a file of 28-3 (25 KOs).
He’s been a nationwide hero since profitable a gold medal in 2012. Will Anthony Joshua stay one of many two finest British heavyweights? Or is it time for this Olympian to move the torch?
On the undercard:
Anthony Cacace-Josh Warrington: Cacace shocked when he seized the IBF junior-lightweight title from Joe Cordina by way of eighth-round technical knockout in Could. That was fairly a victory for the 35 12 months outdated from Belfast – peaking this late in his profession. He’d misplaced a call to Martin Ward however has gained seven in a row, transferring to 22-1 (8 KOs).
If Cacace goes to make it eight, he’ll must win this battle – a non-title protection towards Warrington, a two-time featherweight titleholder. Warrington edged Lee Selby in 2018 for the IBF belt at 126lbs, then defended it with wins over Carl Frampton, Child Galahad and Sofiane Takoucht. Warrington vacated the title initially of 2021, pursuing one other battle slightly than face his necessary challenger Galahad in a rematch.
Warrington, subsequently, was stopped by Mauricio Lara within the ninth spherical in February 2021. Their quick rematch ended as a two-round technical draw on account of a conflict of heads. In 2022, Warrington took out Kiko Martinez in seven rounds to regain the IBF title, solely to lose it to Luis Alberto Lopez by way of majority determination on the finish of the 12 months. Warrington’s sole look in 2023 was in October. He was up on the scorecards towards Leigh Wooden, solely to be dropped and stopped within the seventh spherical. The 33 12 months outdated from Leeds is now 31-3-1 (8 KOs) and might be combating within the 130lbs division for the primary time.
Cacace is seeking to profit from no matter time he has left in his profession. Warrington wants a win with a view to proceed competing in high-profile outings.
Tyler Denny-Hamzah Sheeraz: These two British middleweights are ostensibly combating for the European title however are in any other case aiming for larger issues of their shallow weight division.
Denny, a 33 12 months outdated from the West Midlands, is 19-2-3 (1 KO). He dropped a majority determination in 2019 to Linus Udofia and has gone 7-0-1 since. In his previous two appearances he scored his first and solely skilled knockout – stopping Matteo Signani on cuts within the eighth spherical in November 2023, after which profitable a five-round technical determination over Felix Money in June when a conflict of heads opened a minimize over Money’s eye.
Sheeraz is a extremely regarded 25-year-old from Essex who’s 20-0 (16 KOs). His run of 14 consecutive knockouts has continued at the same time as he’s begun stepping up his degree of opposition. Sheeraz plowed via Liam Williams in lower than a spherical in February after which stopped Austin “Ammo” Williams within the eleventh spherical in June.
Denny is ranked tenth by The Ring and isn’t listed by the Transnational Boxing Scores Board. Sheeraz is rated third by The Ring and 4th by TBRB. A win for Sheeraz ought to land him a title shot within the very close to future, although he’s additionally been calling for a battle along with his countryman Chris Eubank Jnr.
Joshua Buatsi-Willy Hutchinson: The brand new undisputed light-heavyweight champion — be it Artur Beterbiev or Dmitriy Bivol — will want an opponent. So too will contenders equivalent to David Benavidez, David Morrell and Albert Ramirez. Ditto British 175-pounders Callum Smith and Anthony Yarde. Might the winner of Buatsi-Hutchinson transfer on to face any of the above?
Buatsi, 31, gained Olympic bronze at mild heavyweight in 2016. In February he outpointed the beforehand unbeaten Dan Azeez to maneuver to 18-0 (13 KOs).
Hutchinson, 26, has recorded 5 straight victories since struggling a fifth-round stoppage by the hands of Lennox Clarke in 2021. In June, Hutchinson earned a unanimous determination over Craig Richards.
Mark Chamberlain-Josh Padley: Two unbeaten light-weight prospects will meet to see who will transfer forwards.
Chamberlain, 25, has knocked out 5 consecutive opponents – most not too long ago taking out the 23-1 Joshua Oluwaseun Wahab in a single spherical in Could. Victory introduced him to 16-0 (12 KOs).
Padley, 28, has gained three in a row by way of stoppage, although towards a lot lesser opposition. In March, he stopped the 5-2 Conner Lee Doherty within the fourth spherical, transferring to 14-0 (4 KOs).
Josh Kelly-Ishmael Davis: Davis is a late substitute for Liam Smith, who fell ailing.
Kelly (15-1-1, 8 KOs) has put collectively 5 consecutive victories. The 2016 Olympian was moved considerably ambitiously after turning skilled in 2017. In his tenth battle he confronted Ray Robinson and was held to a attract June 2019. Two fights later, in February 2021, Kelly was dropped and stopped within the sixth spherical at welterweight by David Avanesyan. He then moved as much as junior middleweight.
Davis is 13-0 (6 KOs) and is coming off a unanimous determination in March over Troy Williamson.
Extra Fights to Watch
Thursday, September 19: Luke Gersbeck-Lilo Telepe (Fox Sports activities Australia)
The printed begins at 6:30pm Australian Japanese Commonplace Time (4:30am US Japanese Time, 9:30am BST).
It is a middleweight battle between Gersbeck (7-0-1, 5 KOs) and Telepe (4-0, 4 KOs). They may important occasion on the Pullman Resort in Melbourne, Australia.
Gersbeck is coming off a third-round TKO in April of the 11-1 Sadudee Srimueang. Telepe’s final win was in June, when he stopped the 3-1-2 Terry Nickolas in two rounds.
Thursday, September 19: Mandeep Jangra-Nilo Guerrero (International Sports activities Streaming)
The printed begins at 10pm Japanese Time.
Jangra is an undefeated junior-lightweight prospect (10-0, 7 KOs) educated by Roy Jones Jnr — on Jones’ farm, at that — who might be combating on a present promoted by Jones on the Legends On line casino Resort in Toppenish, Washington. The 31 12 months outdated, who’s initially from India, is coming off a 97-second knockout of the 3-3 Jose Camacho in Could.
Guerrero (9-0, 7 KOs) is a 24 12 months outdated initially from Managua, Nicaragua, now dwelling in Coachella, California. In June, he outpointed the 16-37-7 opponent Diuhl Olguin.
On paper, no less than, this might be a step up for each fighters. Solely three of Jangra’s earlier foes had extra wins than losses. Solely two of Guerrero’s had extra victories than defeats.
Friday, September 20: Jaime Munguia-Erik Bazinyan (ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ in america, Sky Sports activities in the UK and Eire)
The principle broadcast begins at 10:30pm Japanese Time (3:30am BST). The preliminary broadcast begins at 5:50pm Japanese Time (10:50pm BST).
It is a good battle between Munguia — a super-middleweight contender who simply misplaced to the very best 168-pounder on the planet — and Bazinyan, a long-time prospect who stepping up in degree of opposition is overdue.
Munguia, a 27 12 months outdated from Tijuana, was defeated by way of unanimous determination by Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in Could, dropping his file to 43-1 (34 KOs). So we all know that Munguia isn’t the very best, and now his workforce can get to determining the place he stands among the many relaxation.
Munguia’s different latest fights at 168 got here in 2023, when he gained a slim determination over Sergiy Derevyanchenko within the battle of the 12 months, after which stopped John Ryder in 9 rounds and despatched him into retirement. Previous to arriving at tremendous middleweight, Munguia held the WBO title at junior middleweight from 2018 to 2019 after which competed within the 160lbs weight class from 2020 to 2022.
Bazinyan, like Munguia, turned skilled in 2013. The 29 12 months outdated is initially from Armenia and is considered one of a number of tremendous middleweights combating out of Quebec for promoter Eye of the Tiger.
Bazinyan’s workforce has been very deliberate about his growth, and his break up draw towards Shakeel Phinn in Could — a battle that some observers felt ought to’ve gone Phinn’s method — exhibits why. That battle introduced his file to 32-0-1 (23 KOs).
It’s long gone time to see whether or not Bazinyan has it. If he can’t get previous Munguia, then his time might be up.
On the undercard, the heavyweight prospect Richard Torrez Jnr, 10-0 (10 KOs), will face Joey Dawejko, 28-11-4 (16 KOs). And opening up the published is Emiliano Fernando Vargas – one of many combating sons of the previous junior-middleweight titleholder Fernando Vargas. Emiliano, 11-0 (9 KOs), will face Larry Fryers, 13-6-1 (5 KOs).
On the preliminary broadcast, a number of different prospects may even be in motion in separate bouts – together with the welterweight Artwork Barrera Jnr, 6-0 (4 KOs), the junior light-weight DJ Zamora, 13-0 (9 KOs), the junior bantamweight Steven Navarro, 3-0 (2 KOs), and the junior featherweight Sebastian Hernandez, 16-0 (15 KOs).
Friday, September 20: Callum Walsh-Przemyslaw Runowski (UFC Battle Move)
The printed begins at 12:30pm Japanese Time (5:30pm BST).
That is the primary skilled battle for Callum Walsh in his dwelling nation of Eire. The-23 year-old junior-middleweight prospect is from Cork and can headline on the 3Arena in Dublin towards Runowski.
Walsh is 11-0 (9 KOs). He’s educated by Freddie Roach and promoted by Tom Loeffler, who labored with Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, and Gennadiy Golovkin. Walsh has headlined a number of occasions on the UFC Battle Move streaming service – together with latest wins over Ismael Villarreal (UD10 in November 2023), Dauren Yeleussinov (TKO9 in March) and Carlos Ortiz Cervantes (KO2 in June).
Runowski is 22-2-1 (6 KOs). The 30 12 months outdated from Slupsk, Poland, has misplaced to a pair of acquainted names – he was outpointed by Josh Kelly in 2019 and Michael McKinson in 2021. Most of Runowski’s profession has been at welterweight, although three of his previous 4 outings have been at or close to the junior-middleweight restrict.
In his previous 4 appearances because the McKinson defeat, Runowski has gained a call over the 31-7-2 Samuel Vargas, fought to a draw with the 13-5 Vladyslav Gela, taken a break up determination over the 27-9 Juan Ruiz, and scored a third-round TKO over the 14-12-4 Benjamin Lamptey.
On the undercard, the tremendous middleweight Ali Akhmedov (21-1, 16 KOs) will face Pierre Hubert Dibombe (22-1-1, 12 KOs). Akhmedov has gained 5 straight since being knocked out within the twelfth spherical by Carlos Gongora in December 2020. Dibombe’s sole defeat got here in his previous look – an eighth-round technical determination towards Bektemir Melikuziev in April.
Friday, September 20: Nicolas Tejada-Nathan Balakin (Fight Sports activities Now)
The printed begins at 7pm Japanese Time.
The principle occasion at Memorial Corridor in Melrose, Massachusetts, incorporates a rematch between the welterweights Tejada and Balakin. In November 2023 they fought to a six-round draw.
Tejada (8-0-1, 5 KOs) has since picked up two straight wins towards designated opponents. Balakin (6-3-1, 3 KOs) hasn’t fought since. Of their mixed 14 victories, just one has come towards a fighter with extra wins than losses – when Tejada took on somebody who was 1-0 on the time and picked up a break up determination.
Friday, September 20: Sikho Nqothole-Jafet Amukwa (DAZN)
The printed begins at 1pm Japanese Time (6pm BST).
Nqothole is a junior bantamweight from South Africa headlining at Field Camp in Johannesburg. The 30 12 months outdated is coming off a unanimous determination loss to Rene Calixto Bibiano in Could, which introduced him to 18-3 (11 KOs).
Amukwa is a 37 12 months outdated from Namibia who’s 9-5-1 (3 KOs). His final battle was in July 2023 – a unanimous determination loss at flyweight to the 17-2-1 DeeJay Kriel.
Saturday, September 21: Nelson Oliva-TBA (Fubo Sports activities, Fox Deportes, Stadium, and Grey TV)
The printed begins at 9:30pm Japanese Time. It’ll even be aired on tape-delay on Estrella TV. Examine your native listings.
Oliva is a 28-year-old middleweight combating out of Los Angeles. A choice win over the 5-3 Franyerson Puerta in March introduced Oliva’s file to 11-0 (8 KOs).
His opponent at Thunder Studios in Lengthy Seashore, California? Effectively, as we reached deadline, the promoter’s publicist didn’t have any updates for us. BoxRec says Oliva is dealing with Alfonso Olvera (13-8-3, 5 KOs). Boxing journalist Dan Rafael’s schedule says Oliva is dealing with Paulo Cesar Galdino (13-8-2, 9 KOs).
David Greisman, who has coated boxing since 2004, is on Twitter @FightingWords2 and @UnitedBoxingPod. He’s the co-host of the United Boxing Podcast. David’s e-book, “Preventing Phrases: The Coronary heart and Heartbreak of Boxing,” is offered on Amazon.
