We are now just over one week away from Anthony Joshua’s bid to become boxing’s fifth three-time heavyweight world champion, as the longstanding poster boy of British boxing seeks to end the reign of Daniel Dubois at the first attempt. Here, we at Boxing Social preview next weekend’s action and take a look at the additional fights on offer.
The staging of the Wembley version of Riyadh Season represents the first foray into the U.K. market for newfound catalyst of boxing Turki Al-Alshikh, but that is not to say that the Saudi kingpin is unaware of the domestic talent on offer in Old Blighty. In fact, one of Al-Alshikh’s favourite fighters is Portsmouth’s undefeated lightweight contender Mark Chamberlain (16-0), so it is no surprise that he will open the card and fight on a third consecutive Al-Alshikh show.
Ranked as the number eight world contender with the WBO after his successes in Riyadh, Chamberlain is now being linked with a shot at WBO world champion Denys Berinchyk in a move that will truly show the benefit of having close ties with Al-Alshikh and cap off a meteoric rise for the 25-year-old southpaw. Yet, to earn that opportunity, Chamberlain will likely need another impressive display against Doncaster’s Josh Padley (14-0).
A showdown at Wembley Stadium is a monumental step up for Padley, whose last two fights have taken place in Malta and then at the banqueting suite at Elland Road, so it would have to be considered as a major shock if the Yorkshireman manages to spring the upset against a supposed world title contender, although stranger things have happened.
Boxing Social Predicts; Mark Chamberlain by KO/TKO
Another man to shine on a recent Al-Alshikh card was Scottish light-heavyweight Willy Hutchinson (18-1), who triumphed over Craig Richards as the underdog on June’s ‘five versus five’ card. That victory has thrust Hutchinson up amongst the top British contenders in a stacked domestic division, putting his brutal 2021 stoppage defeat to Lennox Clarke behind him and beginning to deliver on that amateur pedigree that was lauded during the early stages of his career.
However, Hutchinson will be tasked with a man who is considered by many to be Britain’s greatest hope in the light-heavyweight scene, Rio 2016 bronze medallist turned undefeated British champion, Joshua Buatsi (18-0) – who dominated against Dan Azeez in his lone appearance during 2024 thus far.
Buatsi has been patient in picking a time to push on for world honours but at 31-years-old, the time seems right to press the accelerator in his career and another strong display against Hutchinson could give him the confidence to accept the challenge for the belts.
The WBO interim light-heavyweight title will be up for grabs in this contest and the victor will be well poised for a potentially vacant title shot, given the upcoming undisputed title showdown between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol that will likely lead to fragmented world titles.
The allure of the belt or a potential scrap with the winner of Beterbiev-Bivol, added to the ongoing pre-fight drama between the Buasti and Hutchinson, makes the contest an intriguing and tense one and it really could go either way.
Boxing Social Predicts; Joshua Buatsi by Decision
Anthony Cacace’s (22-1) win over Joe Cordina on the Fury-Usyk undercard rocked the 130lb division back in May as he managed to hand the Welshman the first defeat of his career and claim the IBF super-featherweight title.
Cacace has not lined up an easy dance partner for his return to the United Kingdom – far from it. Instead, he will take on two-time featherweight champion Josh Warrington (31-3-1), a man famed for his rough and relentless style who steps up in weight after he came close to defeating Leigh Wood for the WBA featherweight title last October.
Coming off of the back of two defeats and moving up to super-featherweight, there is a sense of last chance saloon in this contest for ‘The Leeds Warrior’ but the 33-year-old has that unteachable knack of turning up at his best when he is needed to and the clash of styles between he and Cacace is sure to culminate in an enthralling back-and-forth encounter.
Boxing Social Predicts; Josh Warrington by Decision
A lot has been made of Hamzah Sheeraz’s (20-0) potential over the last twelve months and the 25-year-old middleweight has both the confidence and hype to emerge as a superstar in the near future.
His 6’3” frame has seen complimentary comparisons to the likes of Thomas Hearns and Sheeraz’s ability to not only use his stature to his advantage but also be willing to fight in a phonebooth makes him an exciting watch each time he takes to the ring, whilst a run of fourteen consecutive knockout wins shows that Frank Warren’s man has the power to cause problems for any middleweight on the planet.
Yet, Sheeraz is not the only man going into this bout with a heap of momentum behind them. Since losing out to Linus Udofia in 2019, Tyler Denny (19-2-3) has blossomed from a two-time unsuccessful English title challenger into a European champion with wins over the likes of Felix Cash, Brad Pauls and Brad Rea.
The 33-year-old has been overlooked continuously throughout his career but those expecting a Sheeraz showcase and writing Denny off should do so at their own peril. The never-say-die nature that is typical of so many competitors from the Midlands is not an attribute lost on the game Tyler Denny, who will likely give Sheeraz his toughest test to date.
Denny is capable of throwing a spanner into the works and will be a hard opponent to look good against, which Sheeraz will be desperate to do amid rumours of a possible meeting with Chris Eubank Jr. in the future. If Sheeraz is able to run through Denny as some expect him to, it is even more of a statement win than many would deem it and would signal that he is ready for Eubank Jr. or a world title opportunity.
Boxing Social Predicts; Hamzah Sheeraz by Decision
Former WBO super-welterweight champion Liam Smith (33-4-1) is another man eyeing up middleweight glory in a wide-open division, fresh from a disappointing stoppage defeat in his rematch with Eubank Jr.
On that occasion, it is safe to say that viewers did not witness to best version of ‘Beefy’, who was since spoken out and admitted that he made mistakes in the build-up and was not truly fit to fight, but still the ghosts of that performance will need to be forgotten if the Liverpudlian is to succeed here.
With no excuses for a similar showing, Smith has been matched up with the ever-confident Josh Kelly (15-1-1), a slick, hard to pin down operator that is hoping to advance to the world stage. In a crossroads battle, Smith will need to slow down the movement of his younger dance partner but the blueprint has been laid out by David Avanesyan in the past, after the Armenian battered Kelly from pillar to post in a 2021 knockout win.
Kelly has taken to the super-welterweight division like a duck to water since moving up following the bruising defeat to Avanesyan and has since become British champion but here he moves up once again to 160lbs and it will be interesting to see whether he can cope with the timing and punch power of Smith.
Boxing Social Predicts; Josh Kelly by Decision
Finally, we will come to the main-event where Anthony Joshua (28-3) and Daniel Dubois (21-2) meet in a third all-British heavyweight title fight in as many years.
Dubois was heavily criticised for the manner of his stoppage defeats to both Joe Joyce and Oleksandr Usyk in the past, taking a knee on both occasions and accepting the losses, being labelled as a ‘quitter’ as a result.
Although, those decisions appear to have paid dividends as a stubborn Dubois has been birthed, scoring back-to-back emphatic knockout wins against both Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic since losing out to Usyk, the latter resulting him being crowned as the IBF heavyweight champion.
The partnership between Don Charles and ‘Triple D’ has made Dubois a formidable force and the punch power that has been evident from his days as an amateur mean any opponent must always air on the side caution when exchanging with the front-footed brute, especially one such as Joshua who has shown vulnerability in the past.
However, there has been no signs of vulnerability in the new version of Anthony Joshua since teaming up with Ben Davison, resulting in two devastating stoppage wins.
A resurgent ‘AJ’ has rediscovered his confidence and killer instinct since adding Davison to his team, picking his shots well and capitalizing when his opponents have been wounded.
A superb dismantling of Otto Wallin was followed up by a knockout of the year contender against Francis Ngannou that has convinced many that Joshua is back to his best but an in-form Dubois can be expected to meet him in the centre of the ring if the two-time champion wishes for a war.
One talking point that has been mentioned throughout the build-up is the ease at which Dubois was hit in the early rounds of his clash against Hrgovic this year, a mistake that will no doubt prove costly if Joshua is presented with the same openings.
Whether Joshua will fall back into his gun-shy style or trust himself and his body enough to fight through the fire and dish out punishment of his own remains to be seen and will likely determine the outcome.
Boxing Social Predicts; Anthony Joshua by KO/TKO Rounds 4-6
How To Watch
The full Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois card will be available to watch/purchase via Sky Sports Box Office, DAZN PPV and TNT Sports Box Office for £19.99, with each broadcaster offering a different commentary team.
Date And Time
The event will take place on Saturday September 21st at Wembley Stadium, London with the first fight expected to take place around 5pm BST and the main-event ring walks pencilled in for 10pm BST.
Full Card
- Mark Chamberlain (16-0) vs. Josh Padley (14-0) – Lightweight
- Joshua Buatsi (18-0) vs. Willy Hutchinson (18-1) – WBO Light-Heavyweight Interim Title
- Anthony Cacace (22-1) vs. Josh Warrington (31-3-1) – IBO Super-Featherweight Title
- Tyler Denny (19-2-3) vs. Hamzah Sheeraz (20-0) – Middleweight
- Liam Smith (33-4-1) vs. Josh Kelly (15-1-1) – Middleweight
- Daniel Dubois (21-2) vs. Anthony Joshua (28-3) – IBF Heavyweight Title
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