Power, composure and precision: Where Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois may be defeated or doomed

Written by Oscar Pick

It is bound to be a surprise when it is announced that Anthony Joshua will face Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium on September 21.

In a sense, Wednesday's press conference just confirmed what everyone already suspected – that the two will go head-to-head with the IBF World Heavyweight Championship's Riyadh Season event (which was quickly upgraded from interim to full in due course).

Aside from the first bout, this is Joshua's chance to get a payback from his hometown rival, claiming he has dumped the 34-year-old.

Rumors spread like wildfire in 2017, when Frank Warren signed Dubois, who was just 18 at the time.

Obviously, a lot has changed since then, with the two Brits showing significant signs of improvement in recent performances.

What's more, the stakes for their post-summer sizzler are very high, with the winner determined to put themselves next in line for an undisputed championship.

Until the IBF, all four belts were taken by Oleksandr Usyk following his victory over Tyson Fury last month.

However, with a rematch set for later this year, there could be a British heavyweight title to look forward to.

But first, before we get too far ahead, let's consider the keys to victory for Joshua and Dubois, both of whom are looking to remove any doubt that they are the rightful contenders to take Usyk's title.

Anthony Joshua's keys to victory

Control the range with his jab

Since linking up with trainer Ben Davison, Joshua has developed a powerful jab that he uses to strengthen his right hand. Against Dubois, he will no doubt look to establish this weapon from the opening round, avoiding any medium and short range exchanges – that is until he has found his rhythm with outside punching.

With his jab shot, Joshua can have more control over the distance at which he launches his attack. Changing the range, as he always should, will leave Dubois guessing as to whether or not he's out of danger, giving Joshua plenty of inside openings where he can land hooks and uppercuts.

Use his feet

Another aspect of Joshua's game, which has made him a complete fighter, is his footwork. His agility was on display against Otto Wallin last December when, before getting a fifth-round submission, the two-time world heavyweight champion worked angles to not only shoot but also get things out of the pocket.

Since Dubois, at times, shows less pressure to move his feet in place – a weakness that Usyk exposed in the ninth round of their contest last year – Joshua may be given more opportunities to circle his standing opponent, from left to right while landing damaging counters.

Find the center of the ring

Spacing awareness should always be an important part of any fighter's game but, for Joshua, it is the core of his style. Knowing that he can take a few steps back without being pressured into the ropes is what will ultimately inspire confidence when executing his tricks.

For his jab and feet to be successful, Joshua needs time, but more importantly, space, to trap his opponents. If not, if he is forced to get on the back foot – with his mobility in the ring very limited – then any physical advantages over Dubois may be statistics on the page.

Daniel Dubois' keys to victory

Raise Joshua's beat

Dealing with a more experienced operator, who has added a few new strings to his bow, is by no means an easy task. In order for Dubois to take part in this fight, he has to let off steam when he appears to be passive, preventing Joshua from showing his flow.

There are often signs that when a fighter is about to shoot; they'll display strange behaviors of the species – perhaps by wiping their noses or touching their shorts – before starting an exchange. If he can identify Joshua's idiosyncrasies, Dubois can capitalize on them by timing his attacks just right.

Be the first to punch

By being the first in boxing, Dubois will avoid falling prey to any traps set by Joshua. The former WBA 'regular' champion took this into account in his last fight against Filip Hrgovic, who managed to stay clean by leading with various shots.

However, compared to Joshua, someone with a higher boxing IQ, Dubois will need to be more measured in his approach. When putting his tactics into action, it is important for him to throw a lot of ropes so that, after leading Joshua, he can respond with powerful counters.

Save his mental determination

After calling it quits following his 10th round loss to Joe Joyce in 2020, Dubois has proven that he is, in fact, capable of digging deep into fights. In his last two matches – against Jarrell Miller and Hrgovic – he showed a consistent winning attitude by facing tough times before pulling out clear finishes both times.

That's where Don Charles and Kieran Farrell – his newly formed coaching team – made a significant difference. Providing clear instructions and, when necessary, polite back kicks, Dubois' corner will be useful against Joshua, who, judging by his recent outings, may be looking to finish the fight on the inside.

Daniel Dubois defeats Jarrell Miller in their heavyweight bout at the Kingdom Arena on December 23, 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Richard Pelham/Getty Images)