Anthony Joshua is predicted to combat Daniel Dubois for the IBF heavyweight belt after Oleksandr Usyk confirmed he was vacating the world title.
Usyk defeated Tyson Fury on factors to turn into undisputed champion with the WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF titles, however has now introduced he’ll relinquish his IBF belt forward of a deliberate combat between Joshua and Dubois at Wembley Stadium on September 21.
The Ukrainian confirmed the information by way of his Instagram account.
“Hey Anthony Joshua, Daniel Dubois, the IBF Belt is my current for you for 21.09.2024. The world loves sturdy. Your good friend, Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World, Oleksandr Usyk,” he posted.
Dubois, who Usyk defeated final 12 months, holds an IBF Interim belt and would have been the necessary challenger for Usyk, who’s contracted to rematch Fury, a bout which has been set for December of this 12 months.
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Highlights as Oleksandr Usyk turned undisputed heavyweight champion of the world after a dramatic battle with Tyson Fury
Joshua, previously a unified world champion himself, has beforehand misplaced twice to Usyk.
He returned with a factors win over Jermaine Franklin in 2023, however then adopted up with two stoppage victories over Robert Helenius and Otto Wallin.
He has boxed as soon as this 12 months already, taking out Francis Ngannou in simply two rounds. Ngannou, a former UFC champion in MMA, was an inexperienced boxer, however he had managed to go the 10-round distance with Tyson Fury in his first skilled boxing bout.
Dubois has additionally rebuilt efficiently from a loss to Usyk.
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Talking on the Toe2Toe podcast, Andy Scott, Andy Clarke, Lewis Richardson and Dan Azeez focus on the opportunity of Joshua going through Dubois
The 26-year-old challenged Usyk for the WBO, WBA and IBF titles on the Wroclaw Stadium in Poland final August. Dubois put in a recreation effort, urgent the Ukrainian initially. Usyk needed to rise from a low blow, a ruling which Dubois and his crew nonetheless dispute, to halt Dubois within the ninth spherical.
The Briton although went on to grind down Jarrell Miller in December and at first of this month pounded Filip Hrgovic to a halt to win the IBF Interim strap.
“[Being world champion] is a dream. From difficult for the world title to getting the prospect to win [it] outright, that is what I would like,” Dubois declared after that combat.
“I will demolish Joshua. I will get even higher from right here.”
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Joshua was in attendance on the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, only a day after knocking out Francis Ngannou!
As he appears to reclaim his former place within the division, Joshua mentioned: “I’ve obtained to select them off one after the other.
“It isn’t going to be simple, however that is my mentality. So come one, come all.
“He [Dubois] has been in more durable fights 1719379174, so he turns into hardened. He has labored his manner up the ladder, we’ll see what occurs.
“I will flip up and do my job.”