The highly anticipated all-British heavyweight title fight between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois is set for 21 September at London’s Wembley Stadium. This bout is expected to break the attendance record for a British boxing event as the two heavyweights prepare to clash on one of the sport’s grandest stages.
Anthony Joshua, a former unified champion who has twice held world titles, will challenge his fellow Briton, Daniel Dubois, for the IBF title. At 34 years old, Joshua is seeking to reclaim his place at the top of the boxing world by becoming a three-time world champion. Dubois, 26, earned his status as an interim IBF champion by defeating Filip Hrgovic in June. He was later elevated to the position of regular champion after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the title.
The significance of this fight extends beyond the titles at stake; it is also set to be a historic event in terms of attendance. The bout will be Dubois’s first title defense, and it is poised to attract a record-breaking crowd at Wembley Stadium. The event’s organizer, Saudi adviser Turki Al-Sheikh, applied to increase the venue’s capacity to accommodate even more fans. Al-Sheikh announced on 29 August via Twitter that the request had been approved, confirming that the Joshua vs. Dubois fight will likely set a new record for the largest boxing crowd in British history.
Tickets for the event were initially sold out quickly, reflecting the high demand to witness this historic matchup. The current record for the most fans at a British boxing event is 94,000, a figure reached when Tyson Fury faced Dillian Whyte at Wembley Stadium in 2022. During that fight, Fury knocked out Whyte to retain the WBC heavyweight title, marking his first bout in Britain since 2018. Like the upcoming Joshua vs. Dubois fight, Fury’s bout with Whyte was an all-British world title fight that captured the imagination of the boxing world.
The Joshua vs. Dubois matchup is significant not just for the potential attendance record but also for what it represents in the careers of both fighters. For Joshua, this fight is an opportunity to reclaim the status he once held as one of the sport’s most dominant figures. After a series of highs and lows in recent years, including his shock defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr. in 2019 and subsequent struggles to regain his titles, Joshua has been working to reestablish himself as a top contender. A victory over Dubois would go a long way in solidifying his comeback and proving that he still belongs among the heavyweight elite.
For Dubois, this fight is a chance to solidify his place at the top of the heavyweight division. At 26, Dubois is seen as one of the sport’s rising stars. His victory over Filip Hrgovic, which earned him the interim IBF title, was a statement that he is ready to compete at the highest level. However, facing a seasoned and accomplished fighter like Joshua will be his biggest test yet. A win would not only defend his title but also establish him as a legitimate world champion in the eyes of boxing fans and critics alike.
The fight’s setting at Wembley Stadium adds to the grandeur of the occasion. Wembley has been the site of many iconic sporting events, and hosting this all-British heavyweight clash there only heightens the sense of history surrounding the fight. With the expanded capacity, the atmosphere is expected to be electric, as thousands of fans gather to witness what could be one of the defining moments in British boxing history.
As the date approaches, anticipation continues to build for what promises to be an unforgettable night. The Joshua vs. Dubois fight is more than just a contest for the IBF title; it is a battle between two of Britain’s best heavyweights, each with something to prove. Whether Joshua will reclaim his place as a world champion or Dubois will cement his status as the future of the division, one thing is certain: Wembley Stadium will bear witness to a historic event that will be remembered for years to come.
