Boxing: Dubois Slams Table, Refuses to Engage with Rival Joshua

Daniel Dubois slammed the table in mild frustration and refused to engage with Anthony Joshua during a news conference in London. The two British heavyweights will clash on Saturday at Wembley Stadium before a record post-war British crowd of 96,000. Dubois, who won the interim IBF title in June and was later elevated to world champion status when Oleksandr Usyk vacated, emphasized the importance of retaining his title. "I need to retain this world title," he said, adding, "I'm on the rise, I've got the momentum. No more words – just fighting, punches. I'm ready to fight and destroy."

Dubois appeared eager for the end of the news conference, while the focused and respectful Joshua, 34, remained calm. When discussion turned to a past sparring session, Joshua remarked, "It was sparring, now we're fighting, this is different." Dubois curtly responded by saying, "Move on," and banged on the table. Held at the historical Guildhall, this understated press engagement saw Dubois addressing rumors about his trainer, Don Charles: "As long as he's in my corner on fight night, I'm alright."

Joshua, aiming to join legends such as Muhammad Ali and Evander Holyfield as a three-time champion, discussed his heated June confrontation with Dubois. He advised, "You should never let anyone take an inch because they'll end up taking a mile." Despite the tension, Joshua remains motivated after working his way back to mandatory challenger status with four dominant wins, since his belt losses to Usyk in 2021 and 2022.

Reflecting on his previous performances in British stadiums, Joshua stated, "It's good to be back. I'm ready to rumble and remind everyone what I'm capable of."

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