Watch Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois have fiery final face-off as AJ ask for fans’ prayers ahead of Wembley showdown
ANTHONY JOSHUA and Daniel Dubois took part in a fiery final staredown ahead of their blockbuster domestic dust-up.
They will duke it out in front of a whopping 96,000 fans at Wembley Stadium on Saturday night for the prestigious IBF heavyweight title.
The build-up to their mammoth showdown has been respectful, with neither man throwing any serious verbal jabs.
But you could cut the tension between the duo with a knife as they stared into one another’s eyes for the last time before fight night.
Their final staredown took place in front of a packed crowd at Trafalgar Square, which played host to the weigh-ins for the Riyadh Season card.
Despite being the defending champion, 27-year-old Dubois took to the scales first.
And the Greenwich gladiator weighed in three pounds heavier – at 17 stone, seven ounces (248.6lbs) – than he did for his interim title win against Filip Hrgovic in June.
Former two-time unified heavyweight champ Joshua looked like a chiselled Greek god as he tipped the scales.
The Watford warrior weighed in at a whopping 18 STONE for his two-round demolition of former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in March.
And he weighed near enough exactly the same weight – coming in at 252.5lbs – for his historic return to Wembley, where he can become a THREE-TIME heavyweight champion.
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AJ vs Dubois: Build up to the big fight
ANTHONY JOSHUA and Daniel Dubois go head-to-head at Wembley THIS Saturday.
Ahead of the all-British heavyweight showdown, here’s all the biggest stories and need-to-know information…
- Check out the ring-walk time, TV details, timings and undercard for Saturday’s blockbuster event
- SunSport’s Colin Hart has exclusively revealed exactly what happened during AJ’s infamous spar session with Dubois
- Dubois is so desperate to retain his IBF heavyweight title, he’s told he is willing to use an ILLEGAL MOVE
- A SUPERCOMPUTER has predicted the result of Saturday’s fight – and if correct, fans are in for an epic
- AJ is worth more than £200million and Dubois drives a £260k car – we take a look at how their lifestyles compare
Shortly after tipping the scales, AJ made an impassioned plea to the fans in attendance.
He said: “I just want to say a massive thank you throughout all my journey.
“All my ups, all my downs. You guys sticking with me through thick and thin.
“And if I could ask you for one favour, one favour.
“Go home and make a prayer for me for success tomorrow that I will become three-time champion of the world.”
Joshua, 34, is in the final stretch of his glittering career but has dismissed suggestions that the end is nigh.
The London 2012 gold medalist said: “I’m not a warrior in the garden yet. I’m still on the battlefield.
“I’m not selling any roses yet. Just blood, just blood.”
ANTHONY JOSHUA VS DANIEL DUBOIS: All the information you need ahead of huge world title fight at Wembley
Defending champion Dubois wasn’t in the mood for more gum flapping ahead of the biggest bout of his career.
He said: “I’m ready to fight. Now it’s time to get in the ring and fight. Let’s go!”
When pressed on being heavier for the bout, ‘Triple D’ said: “We’ve been working hard.
“But like I say, I’m ready to fight.”
He added: “A lot has gone into this. A lot of work, a lot of training and I’m just ready to go now.
“The talking is done.”