Ben Davison is in super confident mood as Anthony Joshua prepares to bid to become a three-time world heavyweight champion in a few short days.
Davison has been credited with helping Joshua (28-3 with 25 wins inside distance) return to his devastating best with spectacular victories against Otto Wallin and then against Francis Ngannou in the past year. And next up he challenges Daniel Dubois for the IBF heavyweight title in front of 96,000 fans at Wembley Stadium this Saturday night (September 21).
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With Joshua riding the crest of a wave on the back of those recent wins, it is no wonder Davison is brimming with confidence – and he expects an early finish.
Davison on AJ vs Dubois
He told Boxing News: “I’m really confident in an AJ knockout to be honest and I think Daniel’s strengths play into AJ’s hands – as well as his weaknesses. I like the fight for AJ.”
Joshua’s renaissance since those back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk back in 2021 and in 2022 has been quite something, and Davison is convinced the result would be different if the pair were to meet in a trilogy fight. If AJ beats Dubois, and Usyk wins his rematch vs Tyson Fury in December, Usyk vs Joshua 3 for the undisputed heavyweight championship could be for real in early 2025.
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Davison explained: “The other opportunity with the Usyk thing isn’t there at the minute – so I think this is the next best thing. Hopefully this leads to the opportunity for him to fight Usyk again. I’m very confident if the opportunity come about, that AJ would be successful in that – but full focus on Daniel Dubois right now.”
As for Dubois, Davison admits the young British star (21-2) has really silenced some of the doubters in his last two fights – gritty victories over both Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller and then much-avoided Croatian banger Filip Hrgovic.
Dubois on the up, but why?
He said: “I think he showed a lot of grit, a lot of determination, weathered the storm and managed to come out on top and that’s what he needed to do and he was successful in that.”
So what is the biggest change for Dubois in recent fights? Davison credits his trainer Don Charles for some of that improvement.
“Probably his experience – I think Don is a straight talker, he’ll encourage you and he’s your biggest supporter and your biggest fan when you’re his fighter,” said Davison.
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“But he’s also a straight talker and he’s gonna tell you how it is. And I think if he’s known Daniel’s gonna be in for a rough ride, he’s probably told him and encouraged him.
“He’s probably been prepared to go through some rough moments that he’s probably expected – it seems that way anyway – and he’s managed to get through them in his last two fights.”
When is Joshua vs Dubois?
The big fight takes place in front of a record boxing crowd of 96,000 at Wembley Stadium on Saturday September 21, 2024. Ring walks for the main event are expected to be at around 11pm local time (midnight CET, 6pm Eastern Time in the US or 3pm PT on the West Coast).
How to watch the fight live
The bout will be streamed by three different outlets in the UK – all with a PPV price point at less than £20. They are DAZN PPV, Sky Sports Box Office and TNT Sports Box Office. DAZN PPV will also have the call in markets outside the UK – including the US.
