Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois: Assessing the undercard

Anthony Joshua is set to make his Wembley Stadium return almost exactly six years on from beating Alexander Povetkin at the iconic London venue when he trades blows with fellow Brit Daniel Dubois on September 21.

The pair will clash for the vacant IBF world heavyweight title in the grand 90,000-seater stadium in the north-west of the capital, with Joshua the overwhelming favourite at 1/6 in the AJ vs Dubois odds with some bookmakers.

If the Watford native can overcome his opponent, then he would become just the fifth three-time world heavyweight champion in the sport’s history. However, Dubois will be keen to knock Joshua off his pedestal once and for all in what would be a crowning moment for the 26-year-old.

While this is one of the biggest fights to take place on UK soil in recent years, thanks to Saudi Arabia gaining a firm grip on the boxing world, it still has the backing of the Middle East and its unlimited budget is set to put on a blockbuster show on fight night.

The undercard will feature several fights that could easily sell out arenas by themselves. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the key bouts in the buildup to Joshua and Dubois’ defining showdown.

Joshua Buatsi v Willy Hutchinson – WBO interim light-heavyweight title

In another all-British showdown, Londoner Joshua Buatsi will go head-to-head with Scotland’s Willy Hutchinson for the WBO interim light-heavyweight title.

Buatsi beat fellow Londoner Dan Azeez via unanimous decision at the capital’s OVO Arena in his more recent bout in February and is the favourite in the boxing betting.

Hutchinson is coming into this fight on the back of a career-best win over Craig Richards in the hotly anticipated Queensberry vs Matchroom 5v5 in Saudi back in June, and can’t be underestimated.

Anthony Cacace v Josh Warrington – IBF super-featherweight title

Anthony Cacace stunned Welsh boxer Joe Cordina at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh earlier this year, ending the 32-year-old’s unbeaten run of 17 victories with a shock upset.

The Belfast fighter traded blows with Cordina on the undercard of Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk in May, stopping his opponent in the eighth round in what is potentially the upset of the year.

Warrington is on a run of two successive defeats and just one win in his last five fights, so the red-hot Cacace will be confident of carrying on his upward trajectory and avenging Carl Frampton’s — his fellow Northern Irishman — defeat to Warrington in 2018.

Hamzah Sheeraz vs Tyler Denny – European middleweight title

Despite featuring two world title fights, a clash between two of Britain’s top middleweights — Hamzah Sheeraz and Tyler Denny — will top the Joshua vs Dubois undercard.

Rowley Regis native Denny currently holds the European title, but he’s largely expected to struggle against knockout artist Sheeraz.

Denny has won just one of his professional bouts via knockout, while his younger opponent has put a stop to all but four of the men in the opposite corner throughout his 20 fights.

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Liam Smith arguably isn’t the attraction he once was after a loss to Chris Eubank Jr, but the Liverpool fighter will face Sunderland’s Josh Kelly in a light-middleweight fight that will still get a good attendance early doors while Mark Chamberlain and Josh Padley will also meet to get the action underway.