Daniel Dubois has vowed to make Anthony Joshua ‘quit’ when they meet in their world heavyweight title showdown on Saturday.
Newly-crowned IBF champion Dubois puts the title on the line in front of 96,000 at Wembley Stadium with Joshua seeking to become a three-time heavyweight king.
The Londoner picked up his first major world title after a crushing victory over Filip Hrgovic in June, having also scored an impressive last-gasp knockout win over Jarrell Miller in December.
Dubois has previously been labelled a ‘quitter’ by some of the biggest names in boxing after taking a knee in his 2020 defeat to Joe Joyce. Dubois again saw his heart questioned after coming up short against Oleksandr Usyk last year.
But the 27-year-old believes he can now turn the tables on Joshua and break the two-time world champion on the biggest stage.
‘I’ve got to make him quit, break him down, That’s my mindset going into this. Making him quit, breaking him,’ Dubois told Sky Sports. ‘I believe I can.’
Victories over Miller and Hrgovic have helped dispel the ‘quitter’ tag with Dubois eager to set the record straight once and for all against Joshua.
‘I’m turning it round now at this stage of my career. I’ve come through my ups and downs, just turning it round,” Dubois said.
‘Enjoy the moment, let all the talking be done, let all the statements be made. I’m in a good place right now and I’m ready to fight.’
Things kicked off between the heavyweight giants during a television segment in June when Dubois challenged Joshua to ‘go right now’.
Ready to oblige him, Joshua stood up and accused Dubois of disrespecting him, threatening to ‘smash a chair’ over his rival’s head before security waded in.
The two came face-to-face again in the London sunshine on Monday evening with tensions still simmering.
‘I looked into his eyes, and I don’t know, I’m so used to it now. It’s part of the game,’ Dubois said.
‘Of course they are [underestimating him], he’s going to be in for the shock of his life.’