Eddie Hearn, the promoter for Matchroom Boxing, has boldly proclaimed that the upcoming fight between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois is set to break the attendance record at Wembley Stadium for a sporting event. The British duo will face off for the IBF World Heavyweight Championship in a highly anticipated clash scheduled for September 21.
Dubois secured the interim IBF title by defeating Filip Hrgovic in the eighth round earlier this month, with the Croatian boxer sustaining an eye injury during the bout. While Hrgovic was a potential Olympic medallist in Tokyo, Dubois showcased his dominance in a pivotal night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Dubois was officially elevated to world champion status earlier this week when Oleksandr Usyk voluntarily vacated the title rather than face the Greenwich fighter. This development sets the stage for Joshua to potentially become a three-time world champion at the national stadium by year’s end.
The all-British showdown between Joshua and Dubois has generated immense interest, inspiring Eddie Hearn to confidently predict record-breaking ticket sales. Currently, Tyson Fury holds the attendance record at Wembley Stadium for a sporting event with 94,000 spectators witnessing his victory over Dillian Whyte in April 2022.
Speaking on the MMA Hour, Hearn asserted that the September bout will surpass that record, aiming for an attendance of 100,000. Reflecting on past events at Wembley, including Carl Froch vs. George Groves with 80,000 attendees, Joshua vs. Klitschko with 90,000, and Joshua vs. Alexander Povetkin with 80,000, Hearn expressed optimism that Joshua’s popularity would propel attendance to unprecedented heights.
