Anthony Joshua is expected to fight Daniel Dubois for the IBF heavyweight belt after Oleksandr Usyk agreed to vacate his world title.
Usyk defeated Tyson Fury on points to become an unbeaten champion having held the WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF titles, but announced he would be relinquishing his IBF belt ahead of the fight between Joshua and Dubois scheduled for September 21 at Wembley Stadium..
The Ukrainian confirmed the news via his Instagram account.
Dubois held the IBF interim belt and was the mandatory challenger for the world title.
“Anthony Joshua, Daniel Dubois, the IBF belts are your gift on September 21st 2024. The world loves the strong. Your friend, the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, Oleksandr Usyk,” he posted.
Dubois, who beat Usyk last year, retained the interim IBF title and was meant to be Usyk's mandatory challenger in his scheduled rematch with Fury in December.
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Highlights of Oleksandr Usyk becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world after a dramatic fight with Tyson Fury
Joshua, a former unified world champion, has previously lost twice to Usyk.
He returned in 2023 with a points win over Jermaine Franklin, then followed it up with two stoppage wins over Robert Helenius and Otto Wallin.
He has already boxed once this year, beating Francis Ngannou in just two rounds. The former UFC mixed martial arts champion was still a novice boxer when he took on Tyson Fury for 10 rounds in his professional boxing debut.
Dubois also bounced back nicely from his loss to Usyk.
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On the Toe2Toe podcast, Andy Scott, Andy Clarke, Lewis Richardson and Dan Azeez discussed the possibility of a fight between Joshua and Dubois.
The 26-year-old Dubois challenged Usyk for the WBO, WBA and IBF titles at the Wroclaw Stadium in Poland last August. Dubois fought at full strength and pressured the Ukrainian at first, and although Usyk had to get up from a low blow, he was unable to stop Dubois in the ninth round, a decision that Dubois and his team still contest.
But the Briton dominated Jarrell Miller in December and then dominated Filip Hrgovic earlier this month to win the interim IBF title.
“[Being world champion] It's a dream. From challenging for a world title to having a chance to win it. [it] “Honestly, that's what I want,” Dubois declared after the game.
“I'm going to beat Joshua. I'm going to get even stronger from here.”
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Joshua competed in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix a day after knocking out Francis Ngannou.
Joshua said he is looking to reclaim his former status in the division but “I have to take them down one by one.”
“It won’t be easy, but that’s my mindset, so come along guys.
“he [Dubois] I've had a tougher fight 1719356394so he becomes stubborn. He has risen through the ranks, but we will see what happens.
“I go to work and do my job.”
