Anthony Joshua outweighed Daniel Dubois by four pounds for their IBF world heavyweight title fight at Wembley Stadium on Saturday despite a career-heaviest weight for his British rival.
On a stage beneath Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square, Joshua scaled 252.5lbs while Dubois weighed in at 248.6lbs ahead of Riyadh Season: Joshua vs Dubois, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
Joshua, greeted on stage by a mixture of cheers and jeers from a bumper London crowd, was marginally heavier than his last fight against Francis Ngannou while Dubois weighed three pounds more than his previous career highest.
Joshua and Dubois faced off for the final time ahead of Saturday’s fight (Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing)
“You’ve been with me through my ups and downs,” said Joshua. “If I can ask you one favour – pray for me, for my success and for me to become a three-time heavyweight champion of the world.
“I’m a gladiator and I’m about to step into an arena to perform for the people. I’m pumped and ready to perform.”
Joshua weighs in ahead of his fight with Dubois (Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing)
Dubois takes to the scales at Trafalgar Square (Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing)
Spite has crept in between the two fighters throughout fight week and they were locked in an intense face-off before a fight that could decide the hardest puncher on the planet.
“A lot of work and training has gone into this, and I’m just ready to go now,” said Dubois afterwards. “I’m ready to fight. It’s time to get in the ring.”
Predicting the outcome on Saturday night, he added: “A win, by any means necessary.”
The titanic bout will settle the holder of the IBF world championship, with Dubois currently the titlist after his interim belt was upgraded.
That title, a potential shot at the winner of the Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury rematch and personal pride are all at stake in Saturday’s Wembley Stadium clash.
Tension, unsurprisingly, has been building between the pair.
The promotion began with a fractious confrontation, in which Joshua and Dubois had to be pulled apart, and Joshua at no point has backed away from subjecting Dubois to an icy stare-down at their head-to-head stand-offs.
They completed the final face-off on Friday with a huge cheer from the crowd. The last ritual in the countdown to the contest complete, the next occasion they face one another other, it will be time, finally, to fight.
“I love the atmosphere, the fans put pressure on me every time to perform,” added Joshua. “I thrive on it.”
The verdict on the weigh-in
Sky Sports’ John Dennen at Trafalgar Square:
Anthony Joshua has done a lot in his career. He won Olympic gold in a crucible of pressure at London 2012. He’s headlined major stadium shows and been a unified heavyweight world champion twice over.
But he’s never weighed in at an occasion like this, overlooked by the National Portrait Gallery, in the shadow of Nelson’s Column, with Whitehall stretching out behind him.
He’s the type of character who will relish this occasion.
It was interesting too to see him address his supporters directly. Joshua’s relationship with the British crowd has been a special thing to see, even if it has waxed and waned in tandem with his successes and occasional failure.
He asked them to “pray” for his success, for him to become a three-time heavyweight world champion. Another sign, that even though he is focusing his mind on his performance against Dubois, that accolade means a lot to him. It means the world.
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Andy Scott and John Dennen discuss all the talking points from the Joshua vs Dubois weigh-in, including Dubois hitting the scales at his heaviest
Why did Dubois weigh in first?
Joshua still has that star power of old. He came out second for the weigh-in and took to the scales second, a privilege normally accorded to the champion.
Similarly he will be ringwalking second on the night of the fight.
Promoter Frank Warren explained why. It’s because the deal was done before Dubois was elevated to full world championship status.
“When we made the fight it was before the [Filip] Hrgovic fight, the winner was going to fight [Joshua] and that was how it was,” Warren told Sky Sports.
“We did the contract, who was going to go in the ring first. So we’re not trying to be smart,” he added. “[Dubois] is the champion, it is what it is.
“That was what was agreed.”
Undercard fighters make weight
Tyler Denny (159.9lbs) is the European middleweight champion but goes in against Hamzah Sheeraz (159.6lbs) as the underdog.
He seems unfazed though and is adamant he can deliver another upset. “Do what I do my whole career,” he said, “put it on him and bash him up.”
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Hamzah Sheeraz shows off a significant height difference over opponent Tyler Denny
Joshua Buatsi and Willie Hutchinson both made the weight for their WBO interim world title fight. Buatsi was 174.7lbs, Hutchinson 174.9lbs.
After a steely stare-down Buatsi turned to gee up the crowd.
“I couldn’t care less about him,” Buasti declared. “It doesn’t matter.
“I’ll see you all tomorrow night.”
Hutchinson threatened: “One more day, one more sleep and we’re going to get it on and I’m going to knock this fella out.”
Anthony Cacace’s IBF super-featherweight world title will not be on the line against Josh Warrington, a former featherweight champion, who has moved up to super-feather after his loss to Leigh Wood.
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Joshua Buatsi and Willy Hutchinson continue their fiery rivalry at the weigh-in for their bout on Saturday
He might not meet the IBF’s criteria to challenge for Cacace’s belt, but is promising a fierce fight.
Cacace said: “It’s out of my hands, it is what it is. It’s a massive fight regardless of the title. Josh is a massive name in Britain and I’m here to do a job.”
Warrington, who was 129.5lbs, and Cacace, 129.8lbs, exchanged words once they came off the scales.
“Just letting him know I’m not here to make the numbers up,” Warrington said. “I’m here to win.”
Ishmael Davis (159.3lbs) and Josh Kelly (159.1lbs), an Olympian with high ambitions, had a fiery press conference exchange on Thursday. But they were calm at their last face-off.
“A lot of people don’t know what I’m capable of,” Davis warned him. He has come in at short notice for Kelly’s original opponent Liam Smith and is promising he can upset the Sunderland man.
Mark Chamberlain (139.4lbs) and his opponent Josh Padley (139.6lbs) had to be separated after they squared off
“I can’t wait to get in there and do what I normally do,” Chamberlain declared. “He’s unbeaten but he’s in a proper fight tomorrow night.”
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A look at some of the best moments from the Joshua and Dubois undercard press conference
How to watch Joshua vs Dubois
The Riyadh Season: Joshua vs Dubois event is priced at £19.95 for Sky customers in the UK and €24.95 for Sky customers in the Republic of Ireland up until midnight on Friday September 20.
Thereafter £19.95 / €24.95 across all ‘self-service’ bookings (remote control/online) or £24.95 / €29.95 if booked via the phone (either IVR or agent) but note an additional £2 booking fee if via an agent will apply.
The event price will revert back to £19.95 / €24.95 (ROI) from midnight Saturday September 21.
Anthony Joshua’s heavyweight showdown with Daniel Dubois takes place on Saturday September 21 live on Sky Sports Box Office. Book Joshua vs Dubois now!