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Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois faces second blow as world title fight not yet sanctioned

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Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois organizers have been dealt a second blow after Liam Smith withdrew from his undercard fight with Josh Kelly. Now the card faces another major hurdle as Josh Warrington could lose his chance to become a two-weight world champion despite facing IBF super featherweight champion Anto Cacace.

Dubois will defend his IBF heavyweight title against two-time former champion Joshua in the headline fight at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, September 21. However, although the highly anticipated clash between the two Britons will go ahead as planned, the event – ​​backed by the Saudi-funded Riyadh Sezon – has been hit by problems with other fights in the build-up.

Former WBO welterweight champion Smith unexpectedly came down with a virus and announced he would be withdrawing from his fight with challenger Kelly over the weekend. Losing a former champion like Smith on the undercard is undoubtedly a major setback, but the fight was saved by promoters, with Ishmael Davis stepping in to fight Kelly instead.

However, organizers still have another problem as they wait to see if Warrington’s fight with Cacace will still be a title fight. Warrington, a two-time IBF featherweight champion, will move up a weight class to face the Irishman.

The IBF has so far refused to sanction Warrington as a contender because he has not fought in the 9.4lb division for over a decade and has never been ranked. Those involved have been desperately petitioning the IBF to sanction the fight as Cacace’s first defense after he defeated Joe Cordina to win the title in May. They remain confident the fight will be sanctioned by the IBF by the end of the week, but according to Star.

Warrington hasn’t won a fight since 2022, when he beat Kiko Martinez to regain the IBF featherweight title. However, the Leeds fighter lost in his first defence when he was narrowly outpointed by Luis Alberto Lopez later that year. He returned last year to challenge Leigh Wood for the WBA title in the 9th round, but was stopped in the seventh round when it was on the cards.

After securing Davis as Smith’s replacement on Monday’s card, promoters Matchroom said in a statement: “Undefeated Ishmael Davis (13-0, 6KOs) has been confirmed to face Josh Kelly on the Riyadh Season Wembley Card this Saturday 21st September in London. The Leeds-born fighter has the opportunity to face Kelly at Wembley Stadium this weekend following the withdrawal of Liam Smith due to a virus.

“The fight is part of a massive card at England’s National Stadium on Saturday, headlined by Daniel Dubois’ first defence of his IBF heavyweight title against two-time former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, in front of what is expected to be a record crowd for a British boxing event.”

As many as 96,000 spectators are expected to flock to Wembley for one of the most anticipated boxing events of the year. Joshua’s clash with Dubois will be his 13th world title fight, in which he will be looking to win the IBF belt and become a three-time world champion.

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UK Boxing

Tyson Fury Gets His Wish As Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois Fight Predictions Are Exact

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Tyson Fury was sitting ringside at Wembley Stadium as Daniel Dubois knocked out Anthony Joshua in the fifth round of their IBF heavyweight title fight – and got the result he wanted.

Dubois (22-2) entered the fight as the champion but was still considered an underdog, knocking down Joshua (28-4) four times in the first four rounds before ending the fight less than a minute into the fifth.

Fury I felt the fight would end in a knockout, and he got his wish when he saw the result as a fan at ringside. Before the fight he said, “I think it’s a tough fight for both guys, they’re going to be hitting each other and it could go either way.

Although Fury was unsure who would win the fight, he predicted excitement: “It’s not a foregone conclusion[of who will win; they’re both heavy punchers and could knock each other out][ktowygra;obajsąmocnymipięściarzamiimoglibysięnawzajemznokautować[ofwhowillwin;they’rebothheavypunchersandcouldknockeachotherout

“I can’t wait for the fight. The real winners are the ones who come and watch people beat each other up.

“I’m going as a fan and I don’t have any percentages for either one; whoever wins, wins. I’m sure it’ll be an thrilling fight as long as it lasts, if there’s not a knockout either way I’ll be disappointed.”

“Opportunity can come to Daniel, you don’t know what role the crowd can play in the fight, but in my experience in a boxing fight you’re there and it’s a fight, and it’s like Donkey Kong.”

Fury is scheduled to face Oleksandr Usyk on December 21, 2024 in a rematch of their May fight. Usyk handed Fury his first defeat as a professional boxer, becoming the sport’s first undisputed champion since 1999.

If Usyk were to win, Dubois could challenge him to a fight in 2025 to settle the undisputed heavyweight title once and for all. However, the Ukrainian defeated Dubois last year, albeit after controversy after Dubois’ body blow that floored Usyk was ruled a low blow.

“I’m fighting for all the glory, for me I’m a hunter and I have to hunt,” Dubois said after defeating Joshua. “It’s been a journey and I’m grateful to be in this position. I’m a gladiator, I’m a warrior until the bitter end. I want to reach the pinnacle of this sport and reach my full potential.”

When asked who he would like to fight next, Dubois replied: “All the best, maybe Usyk, that’s a huge chance for me to redeem myself, but anyone can do it.”

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UK Boxing

Eddie Hearn confident about Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois rematch

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Joshua, although he needs time to recover, seems ready to return to the ring against Dubois, as Hearn explained: “But he’ll need rest, and it’s a perilous fight. This guy [Dubois] is gaining confidence, but believes that he can hurt Dubois.

“He’ll believe he can beat him. But full credit to Daniel Dubois, he deserves all the credit tonight, it was a great performance from Daniel.”

Dubois’ promoter Frank Warren has his eye on a fight with Oleksandr Usyk after the Tyson Fury rematch. Warren said, recognizing the threat Usyk poses: “Oleksandr Usyk is considered the best heavyweight in the world right now and he gave him his toughest fight at the time, there’s no doubt about that.”

Warren added with hope for future fights: “He hurt himself [during their first fight in 2023]I would like to see him fight him now – but of course he has to fight Tyson [Fury] first and I think Tyson will take his skin.

“Everybody here saw the champion perform tonight. Two great fighters in the ring and the champion perform. And I think he did everything that was asked of him.”

“He showed his courage, he showed his skills, his resilience. AJ caught him with a shot there and I was worried about that. But he caught him with a counter and that’s what happened. What a great, great fight by both guys.”

And who does Dubois like? “Maybe Usyk, gigantic chance for my redemption. Anyone… anyone can do it,” he declared, “I just went on a rollercoaster ride. This is my time, this is my redemption story and I won’t stop until I reach my full potential.”

Reflecting on the fourth defeat of his professional career, Joshua was asked what went wrong. “The opponent,” admitted the two-time former world champion, “credit to him and his team, we took a chance and it didn’t work out.”

“But I want to say to everyone at Wembley, I appreciate you coming out tonight. You know I’m f**ked up, you know I’m ready to go in the ring, but I’m going to stay composed, I’m going to be very professional and I’m going to show respect to my opponent.”

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UK Boxing

Boxer in Joshua vs Dubois fight appears to retire immediately after loss

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Josh Warrington signalled his retirement after leaving his gloves in the middle of the ring following a convincing defeat to IBF super featherweight champion Anthony Cacace at Wembley Stadium. Warrington, 33, a former two-time featherweight world champion, went the distance but was beaten by his Belfast rival 118-110, 117-111, 117-111 in the Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois fight.

It was Warrington’s third defeat in a row and the fourth of his professional boxing career. He had been beaten in his previous two fights by Leigh Wood and Luis Alberto Lopez before meeting Cacace in north London.

Warrington won British, Commonwealth and European featherweight titles in 2013 and 2014 to begin his climb to the top of the division. He then won his first world title in 2018 by defeating Lee Selby.

He successfully defended his world title three times before losing to Mauricio Lara in 2021. That defeat came just a stone’s throw from Wembley Stadium at Wembley Arena. He faced Lara in a rematch six months later, with the fight stopped on the orders of the ringside doctor after the champion received a trophy in his left eye.

He regained the IBF title the following year by defeating Kiko Martinez, but his reign was short-lived as he was defeated by Lopez, a Brit from his hometown of Leeds. Lopez overcame a nasty cut over his left eye to see two judges score it in his favour.

Warrington has already set his sights on what life will be like after retirement. He’s moving into the promotional business. “Well, a boxing career doesn’t last forever when it comes to being a fighter,” Warrington told talkSPORT in the summer.

“I dread the day I retire, but I have to start planning for when it will happen. I feel like I’ve seen enough contracts, been to enough promotion and management meetings.

“I would like to pass on this knowledge to the next generation and my manager Steve Wood gives me a great opportunity to be involved in the company.

“I grabbed that opportunity with both hands and now I’m having fun with it. Steve’s a great manager and a great promoter. He took me from compact venues to arena shows. With my youth, I can assist with that.”

Fans paid tribute to Warrington on social media. “A sensational career, so many underdogs but he has shined in every challenge,” said one. Another added: “Amazing career, one he should be proud of – I used to think he was only European at best and he has proven me wrong.”

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