As the duo faced off at a news conference for their IBF title fight at Wembley Stadium in September, Anthony Joshua told Daniel Dubois that he had been thinking about him for a time. At the Wednesday press conference in London, both combatants were calm and composed as they spoke ahead of the battle, which will be live on TNT Sports Box Office, with Dubois stating that he intends to “become the king slayer” on September 21.

Anthony Joshua has made it clear that he has had his eye on Daniel Dubois for some time, ahead of their September battle at Wembley.

Joshua and Dubois will face off for the IBF heavyweight title on September 21 at Wembley Stadium, live on TNT Sports Box Office, after Oleksandr Usyk announced he was vacating it.

Dubois was crowned IBF interim heavyweight champion after defeating IBF mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic in the eighth round of their bout in Riyadh at the start of June.

The two had an explosive face-off at a press conference on Wednesday, and both showed calm and confidence in their statements.

Joshua informed Dubois that he had kept a look out for the 26-year-old but highlighted the importance of arriving in peak shape, whereas Dubois was confident that he would beat Joshua in September.

“I predicted Dubois to win against Hrgovic. “I watch boxing closely and chose him before,” Joshua added.

“It came true and we’re here, so I’ve been having 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.”

Joshua has risen back up the heavyweight ranks after suffering consecutive losses to Usyk, who then became the undisputed world champion with a stunning victory over Tyson Fury last month.

Joshua’s name had been in the mix with Deontay Wilder and Fury, who lost respectively to Zhilei Zhang and Usyk this year.

If Wilder had beaten Zhang then the American may have been in Dubois’ shoes, but Joshua was clear he is not taking his opponent lightly.

“(Dubois) isn’t like the way they mention Fury or Wilder, but I’m not silly either. I know the game, we’re all in the wild, we’re a pack of lions, we’re hunters,” the 34-year-old added.

“So I’ve got to keep my eyes peeled. I can’t just focus on those two and not worry about anyone else. I’ve always kept my eyes peeled on Daniel and the rest of the heavyweights as well.”

Dubois: "Fists Ready to Talk"
AJ: "Next Man Up"

Both Fighting Fit and Ready 🔥#JoshuaDubois | September 21 | LIVE on TNT Sports Box Office pic.twitter.com/Cl3lgioJWD

— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) June 26, 2024

Aged 34, the former unified world champion is a veteran compared to Dubois’ tender age of 26, yet insisted he feels fresh at this stage of his career.

“I feel fresh. I feel good. I don’t drink, I don’t smoke… Thank god I didn’t get caught up in antics outside of boxing. I use boxing to keep me on the straight and narrow.

“For this fight here with Daniel, it doesn’t matter if I was 35, and he was 15, 20, 25, it doesn’t matter. We’re in peak condition, age is just a number in this one.”

Dubois, flanked by Frank Warren, sat metres away from Joshua as he previewed the fight in his own words.

“It feels different. I would have loved to win [the IBF belt] on the night in my last fight but here we are, I’m blessed, we keep going,” Dubois said.

“I’m learning more about myself, a fighter, a person, coming through the darkness, going into the light and going into the future. I’m really up for this, I’m ready to go.”

"This is going to be special"

Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn can't wait for September 21st ✨🏟️#JoshuaDubois | September 21 | LIVE on TNT Sports Box Office pic.twitter.com/fr2p3u9dqn

— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) June 26, 2024

Since losing to Usyk last August, Dubois was seen as an underdog against Jarrell Miller and Hrgovic, both of whom he beat, picking up the IBF Interim strap against Hrgovic to set up his fight with Joshua.

Although he will be an underdog again in September, the heavyweight prospect is backing himself to dethrone Joshua.

“I’m aiming to be the best, to fight the best and beat the best,” Dubois calmly added.

“AJ has been the king for a long time. We all know he’s been the king for a very long time and on the night I need to become the king slayer. That’s the goal, the mission I have, so I’m just ready to go.

“I’m ready to let my fists do the talking. I’m 100% ready to go to camp, focused and to train like a beast.”

The pair will headline a stacked card in September, featuring a lively undercard of Anthony Cacace v Josh Warrington, Joshua Buatsi v Willy Hutchinson, Tyler Denny v Hamzah Sheeraz, Josh Kelly v Liam Smith, and Mark Chamberlain v Josh Padley.