Anthony Joshua looks to become a three-time world heavyweight champion when he takes on domestic rival Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium on September 21.
The Riyadh Season event promises to deliver fireworks both in and out of the ring, with Liam Gallagher performing a mini-gig before the main event.
And yet, the only thing on Anthony Joshua’s mind will be Daniel Dubois’ newly acquired IBF trinket, which Oleksandr Usyk relinquished shortly after he was crowned the undisputed king.
Now, with Usyk rematching Tyson Fury in December, Joshua will no doubt be hoping to lock horns with the winner, wishing to seize all the marbles in his division.
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Anthony Joshua mindset changes revealed ahead of Daniel Dubois clash
It is no secret that, since linking up with Fury’s former head coach, Ben Davison, Joshua has noticeably elevated several elements of his game.
Having picked up on some of these changes in the gym, one of his sparring partners, Simon Ibekwe, suspects that, come fight night, the 34-year-old will put on an elite-level performance.
Speaking to Seconds Out, he said: “When you’ve got a fresh sparring partner, some people take one or two rounds off, but AJ was always on top. He was always ready – that’s the best way to put it.
“Seeing him now – he just has this focus about him. He’s looking very dangerous. There’s a lot more thought process going into his shots.
“Seeing him with Ben Davison, he just seems like he has a goal and an objective in his head.”
What impact will Anthony Joshua’s experience have on the Daniel Dubois fight?
Another string to Joshua’s bow is his experience at championship level, as, during his five-year unbeaten run, the heavy-handed technician secured wins over the likes of Wladimir Klitschko, Joseph Parker and Alexander Povetkin.
| Championship bouts | Wins | Losses |
| 12 | 9 | 3 |
Dubois, meanwhile, has had just one sniff at a world title.
Nevertheless, Joshua has, perhaps more importantly, responded to his defeats to Usyk and Andy Ruiz Jr by honing in on his defensive footwork, becoming a more versatile, well-rounded operator.
But, of course, any vulnerabilities will remain concealed until he gets properly tested, and so Dubois could be the man to reveal them.