Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois weigh in on the huge championship bout

 Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois weigh in on the huge championship bout

Boxing - September 20, 2024 - Trafalgar Square, London, Britain - Daniel Dubois vs. Anthony Joshua - Weigh-in Reuters/Andrew Couldridge photos of Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua during the weigh-in action

Daniel Dubois, the champion, and Anthony Joshua, the challenger, weighed in front of a sizable crowd in Trafalgar Square on Friday before of their much awaited all-British IBF heavyweight title fight on Saturday in London. 

In their 12-round bout, which is expected to bring a record 96,000 spectators to Wembley Stadium, the 27-year-old Dubois (21-2, 20 KOs) weighed in at a career-high 248.6 pounds, while the 34-year-old Joshua (28-3, 25 knockouts) weighed in at 252.5. 

A concentrated Dubois remarked, "I'm ready to fight, just need time to get in the ring and fight." "I'm prepared to leave. There's a lot of training and labor involved in this. I prevail by all means required."

At the weigh-in, Joshua, who was largely cheered on by the crowd, referred to himself as a "gladiator" getting ready for combat. "If I can ask you one favor, go home tonight and make a prayer for me, for success tomorrow, that I will become three-time heavyweight champion of the world," Joshua said to the crowd. 

"I look at myself as a gladiator, and I'm about to step into an arena tomorrow to perform for the people who love to see blood, guts and glory." August 2022 will mark Joshua's first championship defense following his second defeat to Oleksandr Usyk of Ukraine. 

With the WBC, WBA, and WBO titles in his grasp, Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs) has defeated Joshua twice via decision. He has also stopped Dubois.

Joshua is in the finest shape of his career, according to his promoter Eddie Hearn, but Dubois will not be taken lightly, he said to ESPN.

"AJ's in a place that I've never seen him in before," Hearn stated. "He simply seems so mentally and physically prepared for his battles, even though I'm always anxious about them. However, Dubois is a formidable opponent; the battle will not be simple. 

"But I believe (Joshua) will be victorious tomorrow and become three-time world heavyweight champion." Frank Warren, Dubois's publicist, anticipates a different result.

"(Dubois) is young man, just turned 27, he's shown what he's all about," Warren stated. "He is composed, cool, and calm. You're going to witness something extraordinary tomorrow evening.

"It will be bombs away, that much is certain. I'm ecstatic because tomorrow will bring fireworks and it's going to be a huge struggle."