Claressa Shields on Lauren Price: ‘We can fight and prove who’s the best Olympic champion!’ | Boxing News

Claressa Shields on Lauren Price: ‘We can fight and prove who’s the best Olympic champion!’ | Boxing News



Claressa Shields is a unique fighter. An undisputed champion, she is a multi-weight titlist who has also competed in MMA and who will go for a title in a fourth division later this month.

She will challenge Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse for the WBC heavyweight championship in Detroit.

The Olympic middleweight gold medal has only been won by two women, Shields in 2012 and 2016, and most recently Wales’ Lauren Price, who triumphed at the Tokyo Games.

Price dropped down to welterweight after the Olympics and is only seven bouts into her professional career, but has won the inaugural women’s British title and the WBA world title already.

Lauren Price claimed the WBA world title after beating Jessica McCaskill on points and said it was the start of many more big nights in Cardiff

Shields does not rule out Price becoming one of her future rivals.

“It’s hard to put anything past Olympic champions. She won the Olympics 2021,” Shields told Sky Sports.

“I feel like when you’ve been all over the world and you’ve boxed and you’ve won World championships, it’s kind of destined for you to be great in the pros. I wish her the best of luck.”

They are not on a collision course in the immediate future. Price has plenty of ambitions to realise at welterweight and Shields is moving up in weight for the Lepage-Joanisse fight.

Lauren Price reflects on her victory over Jessica McCaskill to become Wales’ first female boxing world champion and discusses what’s next in her boxing career

But heavyweight is what the WBC calls its 12st 7lbs division, i.e. light-heavyweight (the WBO light-heavyweight title will also be on the line in their fight).

Shields has operated across several weight classes, super-welter and super-middle included, but is a natural middleweight.

Price’s greatest amateur successes were at middleweight, where she won World and European gold medals as well as the Olympic Games. Along the way, she also beat a light-heavyweight World champion at 75kgs.

Lauren Price received an incredible reception from fans after becoming Wales’ first female boxing world champion

Shields doesn’t think their current weight classes will necessarily keep them apart.

“She won the Olympics at 165lbs (75kgs) just as I did – two times – and if she ever wants to fight I would love to fight against her too,” Shields said.

“I believe anything is possible and I really want to fight anybody that wants to fight me. So if Lauren Price keeps winning and comes to 154lbs, 160, 168, we can fight and prove who’s the best Olympic champion.”

Lauren Price claims the WBA welterweight world title with a dominant win over Jessica McCaskill

Shields’ great rival is another Briton, Savannah Marshall. The American beat Marshall in their 2022 grudge match. But Marshall is now also competing in MMA as she pursues another clash with Shields.

“I beat her in the UK with 20,000 of her fans. She needs to come to America and fight me in front of 20,000 of my fans and let’s see if she can handle being booed and her national anthem being booed and people telling her she sucks!” Shields declared.

Savannah Marshall discusses the rematch with Claressa Shields and if we’ll see it in the boxing ring or the MMA cage

“I would love to fight her again and prove that I’m not just one time better than you, I’m two times better than you either inside the cage and definitely inside the ring. It really doesn’t matter which one.”

But first Shields has a more immediate task, winning yet another accolade against Lepage-Joanisse.

“I’m going for my fourth division,” she said. “It’s going to be big and it’s going to be history-making.”

Shakur Stevenson dominates Artem Harutyunyan as Robson Conceicao shocks O’Shaquie Foster | Boxing News

Shakur Stevenson dominates Artem Harutyunyan as Robson Conceicao shocks O’Shaquie Foster | Boxing News


Shakur Stevenson took a clear unanimous decision victory at the Prudential Center as he defended his WBC lightweight world title from Artem Harutyunyan.

Fighting in his Newark hometown, the American outboxed his challenger to win by scores of 119-109, 118-110 and 116-112 after 12 rounds.

The Armenian-born Germany-based Harutyunyan is a 2016 Olympic medallist but was entering this fight after a near year-long lay-off. Ultimately he could not threaten Stevenson and was hurt multiple times by body shots.

Image:
Stevenson outboxed his challenger

“He’s just trying to make sure he survives,” Stevenson said afterwards. “He’s a good fighter. He’s tough. He’s strong. I would’ve wanted him to try a little harder, so that way it could be a more fun fight.

“I have to cut off the ring a bit more. He’d go one way and then go the other way, so I got to go back in the gym and work on cutting off the ring.”

Harutyunyan said: Of course it was fun. Boxing is not a game. You have to fight. You get hit and have to hit back. It’s normal.”

In a shock result on the undercard Brazilian Olympic gold medallist Robson Conceicao defeated O’Shaquie Foster to win the WBC super-featherweight title.

It was Conceicao’s fourth attempt at winning a world title and a split decision went his way. Foster won 116-112 on one card, but the other two judges ruled it 116-112 and 115-113 for Conceicao.

Foster insists he deserved the decision against Conceicao
Image:
O’Shaquie Foster insisted he deserved the decision against Robson Conceicao

“This is for my daughter. I promised this to my daughter, and I was able to fulfil that promise. I’m the champion of the world,” Conceicao said.

Foster bitterly disagreed with the result. “I thought it was easy. I thought it was an easy fight. I didn’t get touched except with a headbutt. I don’t know, man,” he said.

“I’ll be back. But I want the rematch. They stole this from me. They stole this fight from me. I just wanted to show the world I could bang it out, and if I want to, I don’t have to get touched. I guess it wasn’t good enough for the judges.”

Keyshawn Davis overcame the pressure and roughhouse tactics of Miguel Madueno to secure a unanimous decision win and improve his record to 11-0.

Davis, an Olympic silver medallist from Norfolk, Virginia, kept calm and used well-timed counter-punches, triumphing 99-91 on all three scorecards.

The two tussled after the end of round six and in the seventh Madueno, 31-3 (28), lifted Davis clear off his feet.
Davis found his offensive groove in the ninth and 10th rounds and viciously out-landed Madueno.

“He’s a rough type of a guy, a real physical type of guy,” Davis said. “We were doing a lot of rough tactics in there, just trying to get under each other’s skin.

Keyshawn Davis got to grips with Miguel Madueno
Image:
Keyshawn Davis got to grips with Miguel Madueno

“We were both tough in there, and neither of our wills got broke.”

Also on the undercard Cleveland prodigy Abdullah Mason knocked out Luis Lebron in the third round. Lebron had never been stopped before but Mason made easy work of the Puerto Rican veteran.

Mason knocked Lebron down twice in the second round, first with an overhand left and then with a series of right hooks. The end was near, and Lebron’s corner threw in the towel at 1-18 of the third to prevent further damage.

Mason said: “I guess we fed him a little bit of smoke, and he didn’t have the appetite for it.”

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Shakur Stevenson vows to shut up doubters and become ‘best boxer ever’ | Boxing News

Shakur Stevenson vows to shut up doubters and become ‘best boxer ever’ | Boxing News


Shakur Stevenson has vowed to quieten his doubters when he returns to the ring to defend his WBC lightweight title against Artem Harutyunyan in his hometown.

Stevenson meets Germany’s Harutyunyan in Newark, New Jersey in what will be the first defence of his WBC lightweight world title, live on Sky Sports on Sunday at 1am.

In November 2023, the 27-year-old won the vacant WBC title to become a three-division world champion when he unanimously outpointed Edwin De Los Santos in Las Vegas, but the bout drew boos due to its hesitant and slow-paced performance

“I just want to shut up the people that don’t know nothing about boxing, I call them casuals,” Stevenson said.

“I think a lot of people doubt me because they try to make certain fighters invisible and I just don’t believe that logic.

“I think anybody can be beat on any given day, and honestly, I’m a lot to deal with within myself so I don’t know how people could even put me as an underdog but let’s do it.

“I expect to perform at the highest level. Be sharp, be smart. I will entertain. I will sit there and beat guys up in my own way.

“They’re going to see boxing at the highest level. I’m planning on showing somebody who mastered the art of hitting and not getting hit while being entertaining.

“My plan is to become the best boxer ever.

“And being the best boxer ever is somebody who has mastered the art of hitting and not getting hit and that’s what I plan on showing come July 6.”


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Stevenson, a southpaw, relied on using footwork and single punches, predominantly his lead right. He landed jabs that scored, hinting at his capabilities but he was far too sparing with any power punches from his backhand against De Los Santos on his last time out.

Stevenson’s name was linked with Vasiliy Lomachenko for a while but the two have never fought each other to date, with the Ukrainian boxer dropping George Kambosos Jr in the 11th round to win the IBF lightweight title in Perth in May.

“Lomachenko probably feels he’s got a better chance to win going in that direction,” Stevenson said.

“I mean it’s a business deal, he’s not looking for the biggest challenges, he’s looking for the biggest money so I get it.

“I’ve been saying I would like to fight Teofimo Lopez, that would definitely be an intriguing fight to make,” he added.

“He went on air and said he would never fight me, he did an interview not too long and said he wouldn’t fight me, something that doesn’t even make sense.

“I don’t know what he’s talking about but I would love to fight him.”

Speaking on a potential fight between Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis and Lomachenko, Stevenson said: “I think Tank is younger and fresher so he should do his thing, because I know if it was me, my game plan would be to use my age and my youth and beat him up.

“But I don’t know, it could be a tricky fight because I don’t think that Tank has ever seen anybody with Lomachenko’s footwork either and with the experience in the ring, it could be a tricky fight

“Everyone may think that Lomachenko is a super underdog but he may have a chance.”

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Ryan Garcia expelled by WBC for using discriminatory slurs on social media | Boxing News

Ryan Garcia expelled by WBC for using discriminatory slurs on social media | Boxing News


Ryan Garcia has been banned by the WBC for repeatedly using discriminatory slurs in comments livestreamed on social media.

Mauricio Sulaiman, the president of the sanctioning body, announced the penalty against Garcia on the social media platform X.

“Exercising my authority as president of the WBC, I am hereby expelling Ryan Garcia from any activity with our organisation,” Sulaiman posted.

“We reject any form of discrimination.”

Garcia later posted on X: “I was trolling I want all the killing to stop. I love everyone, sorry if I offended you.”

Sky Sports has contacted Garcia’s promoter Golden Boy for comment.

Image:
Last month, Ryan Garcia’s win over Devin Haney was changed to a no contest

Last month, the result of Garcia’s shock upset victory over Devin Haney in April was changed to a no contest after he tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

The New York State Athletic Commission also suspended Garcia for a year and said he would have to forfeit £790,000 ($1m) he made on the fight and pay a $10,000 fine.

Ryan Garcia took to social media to deny using performance-enhancing drugs in the lead-up to his fight with Devin Haney last month

Garcia’s attorneys claimed in a statement that he had been “a victim of substance contamination” and that the boxer has repeatedly passed drug tests, even when not in training for a fight.

Nico Ali Walsh fights through dislocated shoulder before revealing he rejected Jake Paul offer | Boxing News

Nico Ali Walsh fights through dislocated shoulder before revealing he rejected Jake Paul offer | Boxing News



Nico Ali Walsh revealed he turned down an offer to fight Jake Paul as he returned to winning ways with a victory over Sona Akale on Saturday night. 

Ali Walsh, a grandson of the great Muhammad Ali, avenged his previous defeat to Akale by coming through six tough rounds to edge the contest on the scorecards.

The 23-year-old produced a third-round knockdown from a left hook before fighting through a dislocated shoulder in the final round.

Despite dislocating his shoulder mid-fight; Walsh managed to hold on to beat Akale in their middleweight rematch

Speaking in his post-fight interview, he cited recent comments from the night’s headline fighter Teofimo Lopez before explaining he passed up the opportunity to take on YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul.

“One thing for sure I gotta clear, Teofimo Lopez said in an interview a few weeks before this fight – he disrespected my family saying that I’m only in boxing because I’m desperate for money and fame and I thought that was real wrong for someone I used to look up to to say,” said Walsh. “But, you know, it is what it is.

“I just wanna let everyone know that I chose the path of boxing, I chose the path of legacy. If I wanted to, I could be a millionaire right now.

“Before this fight, I denied a multi-million-dollar contract from MVP Promotions, to fight Jake Paul, and I’m fighting a real fighter tonight. I’m not a part of that circus league of boxing. This is the real league of boxing and this is what I’m gonna do.”

Watch highlights as Teofimo Lopez retained his WBO junior welterweight title with a unanimous points decision over Steve Claggett

Ali Walsh, who moved to 11-1 as a professional with his win over Akale, played down the prospect of a third fight between the pair, reiterating his belief that he deserved victory in the first meeting.

“I don’t know what happened [with his shoulder], I’ve never been through anything like that, and it popped out, but I survived and I definitely beat him. I don’t know what he’s getting upset about,” he said.

“It feels like if it happened to him, he would have cried like a baby and sat on the ground and quit the fight, but it happened to the right person and I’m just happy for the victory. It feels like I’m winning twice now, because the first time they awarded him the decision but I felt like I won.”

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Teofimo Lopez defeats Steve Claggett while Robeisy Ramirez blows away Brandon Leon Benitez | Boxing News

Teofimo Lopez defeats Steve Claggett while Robeisy Ramirez blows away Brandon Leon Benitez | Boxing News



Teofimo Lopez defended his WBO and Ring Magazine junior welterweight world titles with a unanimous decision win over Canadian contender Steve Claggett in Miami on Saturday night.

Claggett (38-8-2, 6 KOs), who was coming off a nine-fight winning streak, charged at Lopez from the opening bell. The 35-year-old had Lopez (21-1, 13 KOs) against the ropes for much of the fight, where he landed short punches around The Takeover’s shoulder roll defence.

Lopez used his head movement at close range to evade many shots, but he was more comfortable on the outside. The 26-year-old moved often to establish distance, connecting quick combinations around Claggett’s high guard, including a flurry that hurt him in the eighth.

Claggett was aggressive at every moment, but Lopez’s athleticism prevented him from mounting any significant offence.

Lopez retained his crown with scores of 120-108, 120-108 and 119-109.

Lopez said: “I knew exactly what kind of fighter he was. I knew he would come forward and test my conditioning. And that’s what we had. We went 12 rounds.

“The will has to be stronger than the skill. And that’s what we showed. If I was tired, I know he was more tired because I worked very hard for this. We knew we had to break him down. The body shots were hurting him.

“I’m very grateful. He’s a tough fighter. I don’t think anyone should overlook him. I knew that coming into this.”

Ramirez pummels Benitez

Robeisy Ramirez produced a stunning uppercut knockout on Brandon Benitez in the seventh round of their featherweight fight

Former WBO featherweight world champion Robeisy Ramirez (14-2, 9 KOs) stopped Mexico’s Brandon Leon Benitez (21-3, 9 KOs) in the seventh round of the night’s co-feature.

Ramirez set the pace early by hurting Benitez with power shots in the second and third rounds. Benitez tried to work on the inside, but Ramirez consistently created space for combinations either by pushing him off or using his feet.

In round seven, the two-time Olympic gold medallist began to move even more, touching Benitez with light punches. He then connected a devastating left uppercut that dropped Benitez, who did not recover, forcing the referee to end the fight at 2:46.

Ramirez said: “It’s no secret that Ismael Salas is one of the best strategists in the world. And so the plan was to wear him down little by little. Then, after the last round, he tells me not to look for power shots but to move a bit and to return to my [amateur] roots. That’s what I did. I touched and touched, and I found the shot.

“It’s not my first time landing a shot like that. It feels good to land a punch like that because it demonstrates that we worked hard in camp.

“I want my title back. I want the rematch against Rafael Espinoza. If it’s not with him, then I can fight against any of the other champions.”

Ali Walsh Avenges Loss to Akale

Despite dislocating his shoulder mid-fight; Nico Ali Walsh managed to hold on to beat Sona Akale in their middleweight rematch

Middleweight prospect Nico Ali Walsh (11-1, 5 KOs) triumphed in his rematch against Sona Akale (9-2, 4 KOs), avenging his only pro defeat via a six-round unanimous decision.

The grandson of ‘The Greatest’ dropped Akale with a left hook in round three, but Akale fired back in round five with a fusillade of punches that hurt him. Ali Walsh then suffered a dislocated left shoulder in the sixth round but dug deep to finish the fight, using his right hand to connect on an aggressive Akale in the final seconds.

Ali Walsh prevailed with scores of 58-55, 57-56, 57-56.

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Teofimo Lopez says he is a level above Devin Haney and would rather fight Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis | Boxing News

Teofimo Lopez says he is a level above Devin Haney and would rather fight Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis | Boxing News


WBO super-lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez says he is a level above Devin Haney and does not need to fight him to prove it.

Lopez makes the second defence of his belt against Steve Claggett live on Sky Sports from 2am on Sunday, and a clash with Haney has been mooted should ‘The Takeover’ come through.

However, the New Yorker says a bout with WBA lightweight champion Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis would be a more “eye-candy” fight.

Haney is the WBC super-lightweight ‘champion in recess’ following his defeat to Ryan Garcia in April being rendered a no contest after his opponent tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

Lopez returns to the ring this weekend as he defends his world title against Steve Claggett, live on Sky Sports

Lopez said of Haney: “He is nowhere near any picture.

“He has been helped a lot, in many ways. They wanted to make him seem like he is the greatest. I don’t hate the kid, I’m not knocking him down.

“When I lost to George Kambosos Jr, he and his father were jumping up and down celebrating.

“When he lost to Garcia, I didn’t jump up and down. I just said okay and wished him nothing but the best because I know what it feels like.

“I don’t believe Haney is the American dream, I don’t believe he is the next Mayweather or any narrative they want to put out there.

Image:
Devin Haney is the WBC ‘champion in recess’ after Ryan Garcia’s positive drug test

“I believe Haney is someone who reaches a certain level in life and is going to stay there forever.

“I have already proved [I am a level above Haney] without having to fight him, I don’t need to face this guy. He has just lost.”

‘I always pick the toughest fights – I aim for greatness’

Lopez (20-1) – who said he would love to fight in the UK one day – will not be taking Canadian Claggett (38-7-2) lightly, insisting he always looks for arduous fights as he “aims for greatness”.

The 26-year-old said: “I have got a tough competitor ahead of me, he is hungry. It is almost like a Rocky Balboa story for this guy. I can’t overlook nobody. He does not stop throwing punches.

“He has everything to gain, I have everything to lose. I always pick the toughest fights – my résumé speaks loudly.

“You can’t say you are arguably the best in the world without facing the best. You can’t say you are the Muhammad Ali of this generation without doing what Muhammad Ali has done.

I want to know more, I want to learn more. You never figure boxing out and just when you think you have figured it out, boom, here comes something else. That’s the reason I love my sport the most.

Teofimo Lopez

“You can’t say you are the throwback fighter without facing adversity and overcoming it. If I say all this stuff and don’t back it up, I am a hypocrite. Then it’s talking smack, not the truth.

“I am only getting better, I am not at my prime just yet but we are reaching it. I think that’s the best part. I aim for greatness and I always have.

“The tremendous amount of fighters I have faced already at a young age… because of those champions and their styles, I have only got better.

“You guys are going to see a whole new genre of Teofimo the next couple of years.”

Watch Teofimo Lopez vs Steve Claggett live on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Main Event from 2am on Sunday.

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Teofimo Lopez vs Devin Haney ‘would make a great fight’, says Top Rank promoter Bob Arum | Boxing News

Teofimo Lopez vs Devin Haney ‘would make a great fight’, says Top Rank promoter Bob Arum | Boxing News


Bob Arum has teased a possible blockbuster showdown between Teofimo Lopez and Devin Haney if the WBO super-lightweight champion defends his title this weekend.

Lopez (20-1 (13)) makes his second defence of the belt against Steve Claggett (38-7-2 (26)) in Miami on Sunday, live on Sky Sports Action and Main Event from 2am, and promoter Arum already has his sights on what comes next for the American.

A clash with compatriot Haney (31-0 (15)), currently designated as ‘champion in recess’ by the WBC following his no-contest against Ryan Garcia in April, is among the potentially mouth-watering matches on the horizon if the 26-year-old defeats Canadian challenger Claggett.

Teofimo Lopez returns to the ring this weekend as he defends his world title against Steve Claggett

“There are a lot of 140lb champions who would make really good matches for Lopez,” Arum told Sky Sports.

“There’s Devin Haney – he and Haney would make a great fight.

“There is a lot of activity in those weight divisions and if Teofimo comes through, he has a lot of big fights in front of him.”

Meanwhile, Arum is hoping to see Shakur Stevenson put on a big display when he defends the WBC title against Artem Harutyunyan, live on Sky Sports Action on Sunday, July 7 from 1am.

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Bob Arum wants an ‘exciting’ performance from Shakur Stevenson in next month’s title defence

WBA champion Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis and IBF title-holder Vasily Lomachenko are among the other names in the mix at the top of the 135lb division, but Arum is eager to see Stevenson (21-0 (10)) show what he is truly capable of with an eye-catching display against Harutyunyan (12-1 (7)).

“I want to see a real top performance from Shakur,” Arum said. “It’s an exciting fight.

“I know if he goes in and pecks away, he can beat anybody but that doesn’t entertain people and professional boxing is part entertainment, so I want him to engage in an entertaining fight.

“That lightweight division is loaded; Tank Davis just scored another knockout against Frank Martin in a very exciting fight…Lomachenko now has one of the lightweight titles, and he and Davis would be a massive, massive fight.

“There is a lot of activity in those divisions and those fighters seem ready and willing to fight each other.”

Watch Teofimo Lopez and Steve Claggett battle for the WBA super-lightweight title on Sunday morning from 2am, live on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Main Event. Also stream boxing and more top sport contract-free with NOW.

Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois: Winner to face Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk victor, Frank Warren says | Boxing News

Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois: Winner to face Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk victor, Frank Warren says | Boxing News


Promoter Frank Warren has told Sky Sports the winner of Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois will face the winner of December’s rematch between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.

Joshua will face Dubois in an all-British heavyweight clash for the IBF world heavyweight title at Wembley on September 21, live on Sky Sports Box Office.

Usyk announced on Tuesday that he had vacated the IBF belt, which means Joshua can regain one of the world titles he previously held if he defeats Dubois, who has been upgraded from IBF interim title holder to IBF champion.

Joshua has marched back up the heavyweight ranks after suffering two consecutive losses to Usyk, who went on to become the undisputed world champion with his stunning victory over Fury last month.

Dubois, who previously held a version of the WBA title, has also rebuilt successfully from a loss to Usyk.

“All roads will lead to unification again,” Warren, promoter for Dubois, told Sky Sports on Thursday.

Turki Al-Alalshikh brought Joshua and Tyson Fury together to discuss a potential long awaited fight

“He’s [Usyk] getting a massive payday for the rematch that he was contracted for against Tyson. That’s what the position is. It’s pure business as far as he’s concerned.

“If it was about holding on to the belts, then he wouldn’t have relinquished. He’s in it for the money and obviously the rematch is a massive, massive fight, which everyone wants to see. It was such a closely fight last time, it’s a bigger fight now in December.

“Whatever happens, the winner of this fight on September 21 [Joshua vs Dubois], which will be Daniel [Dubois], will fight the winner of that fight, and the four belts will be back on the line again.”

Promoter Frank Warren insists Dubois has a better recent record than Joshua ahead of their Wembley showdown

Dubois: I need to become a king-slayer | AJ: We’re all a pack of lions

Dubois, speaking at Wednesday’s press conference…

“I’m just aiming to be the best. To fight the best and beat the best. AJ has been the king for a long time, and we all know it, so on the night I need to become a king-slayer.

“That’s my goal and that’s the mission at hand. I’m just ready to go.

“I’m definitely learning more about myself with every fight, as a fighter and as a person. Coming out of the darkness, going into the light and being a man of the future.

“I’ve improved all round as a fighter and an athlete. I’m really up for this and ready to go.

I’m ready to let my fists do the talking. I’m 100m per cent ready. I’m going to go to camp, focus and train like a beast. Bring it on.”

Dubois is confident he’ll have the beating of Joshua when they fight at Wembley in September, while AJ is just focused on making sure he’s in peak physical condition to perform on the night

Joshua and Dubois faced off for the first time at the launch press conference for their blockbuster battle at Wembley on 21 September for the IBF heavyweight world title

Joshua, speaking at Wednesday’s press conference…

“It’s the next man up. I’ve had Dubois on my mind for a while, and he’ll be on my mind for the next 12 weeks until I get my hand raised.

“I’m not silly either, I know the game. We’re all in the wild. We’re a pack of lions and hunters. I have to keep my eyes peeled, I can’t just focus on those two [Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder].

“The goal is just to get through a successful training camp, and then performing on the night. The shiny stuff comes at a later date.”

Image:
Joshua will face Dubois at Wembley on September 21, live on Sky Sports Box Office

Anthony Joshua to fight Daniel Dubois for IBF world heavyweight title at Wembley Stadium on September 21 | Boxing News

Anthony Joshua to fight Daniel Dubois for IBF world heavyweight title at Wembley Stadium on September 21 | Boxing News



Anthony Joshua will face Daniel Dubois in an all-British heavyweight clash for the IBF world heavyweight title at Wembley Stadium on September 21, live on Sky Sports Box Office.

Oleksandr Usyk announced on Tuesday that he had vacated the IBF belt, which means Joshua can regain one of the world titles he previously held if he defeats Dubois, who has been upgraded from IBF interim title holder to the IBF champion.

Joshua has marched back up the heavyweight ranks after suffering two consecutive losses to Usyk, who went on to become the undisputed world champion with his stunning victory over Tyson Fury last month.

The 34-year-old Joshua was outpointed by Usyk in two fights that spanned 2021 and 2022.

Anthony Joshua was at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, just a day after knocking out Francis Ngannou!

He returned with a points win over Jermaine Franklin in 2023, but then followed up with stoppage victories over Robert Helenius and Otto Wallin later that year.

He’s boxed once this year already, taking out Francis Ngannou in just two rounds. Ngannou, a former UFC champion in MMA, was an inexperienced boxer, but he had managed to go the 10-round distance with Tyson Fury in his first professional boxing bout.

See what Anthony Joshua said to Francis Ngannou in the ring after their fight.

Dubois, who previously held a version of the WBA title, has also rebuilt successfully from a loss to Usyk.

The 26-year-old challenged Usyk for the WBO, WBA and IBF titles at the Wroclaw Stadium in Poland last August. Dubois put in a game effort, pressing the Ukrainian initially. Usyk had to rise from a low blow, a ruling which Dubois and his team still dispute, to halt Dubois in the ninth round.

Dubois though went on to grind down Jarrell Miller in December and at the start of this month pounded Filip Hrgovic to a halt to win the IBF Interim strap.

Speaking on the Toe2Toe podcast, Andy Scott, Andy Clarke and Dan Azeez analysed Joshua vs Dubois

Dubois: I need to become a king-slayer | AJ: We’re all a pack of lions

Dubois, speaking at Wednesday’s press conference…

“I’m just aiming to be the best. To fight the best and beat the best. AJ has been the king for a long time, and we all know it, so on the night I need to become a king-slayer.

“That’s my goal and that’s the mission at hand. I’m just ready to go.

“I’m definitely learning more about myself with every fight, as a fighter and as a person. Coming out of the darkness, going into the light and being a man of the future.

“I’ve improved all round as a fighter and an athlete. I’m really up for this and ready to go.

I’m ready to let my fists do the talking. I’m 100m per cent ready. I’m going to go to camp, focus and train like a beast. Bring it on.”

Dubois is confident he’ll have the beating of Anthony Joshua when they fight at Wembley in September, while AJ is just focused on making sure he’s in peak physical condition to perform on the night

Joshua and Dubois faced off for the first time at the launch press conference for their blockbuster battle at Wembley on 21 September for the IBF heavyweight world title

Joshua, speaking at Wednesday’s press conference…

“It’s the next man up. I’ve had Dubois on my mind for a while, and he’ll be on my mind for the next 12 weeks until I get my hand raised.

“I’m not silly either, I know the game. We’re all in the wild. We’re a pack of lions and hunters. I have to keep my eyes peeled, I can’t just focus on those two [Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder].

“The goal is just to get through a successful training camp, and then performing on the night. The shiny stuff comes at a later date.”