Daniel Dubois escalated the rivalry with Anthony Joshua ahead of their highly anticipated heavyweight world title fight by taking a playful yet provocative jab—literally. In a recent social media clip, Dubois celebrated his 27th birthday by punching a cake adorned with a picture of Joshua’s face. The IBF title defense bout between Dubois and his fellow Brit is set for September 21 at Wembley Stadium, and the heat between the two fighters is building fast.
Dubois inherited the IBF title after Oleksandr Usyk vacated his belt, and the looming fight with Joshua is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated matchups in the heavyweight division. The tension between the two fighters has been palpable, even coming to a head during a face-off earlier this year, where Joshua threatened to smash a chair over Dubois.
Dubois, showing his confidence and cheeky sense of humor, marked his birthday in a viral clip shared by Queensberry Promotions. In the video, a topless Dubois is handed a cake with white icing and a picture of Joshua saluting. Wasting no time, he delivers a hard punch straight through the cake, saying with a grin, “This is business.” While the mood was light-hearted, it signified the growing tension between the two fighters, adding fuel to their already heated rivalry.
This public display comes after a fiery face-off between the two fighters just two months ago, where Joshua threatened to hit Dubois with a chair. Reflecting on the incident, Dubois downplayed the altercation, telling Queensberry Promotions, “He was warning me, if you’re going to do something, just do it. It’s all mind games. I’m ready to fight and I’m sick of all the talk—let’s just get in the ring.”
Joshua, a former heavyweight champion, is looking to reclaim the IBF belt, which he held for a significant part of his career. This fight is a critical opportunity for Joshua, who has lost his last four fights and is aiming to become a three-time world champion. Despite his recent setbacks, Joshua’s extensive experience in world title bouts—having won nine out of 12—gives him a considerable edge. Additionally, Joshua has fought twice at Wembley, making him no stranger to the pressure and excitement of the iconic venue.
On the other hand, Dubois is eager to prove himself after failing in his previous world title fight against Usyk last year. However, Usyk’s decision to vacate the belt opened the door for Dubois to get another shot. Dubois has bounced back since that defeat, winning his last two fights and boasting an impressive record of 20 knockouts from his 21 victories. At 27 years old, he’s determined to make the most of this second chance.
The winner of this clash will likely face the victor of Usyk’s rematch with Tyson Fury, a showdown that could determine the next dominant force in the heavyweight division.
With both fighters hungry for victory, the world will be watching as Dubois and Joshua step into the ring on September 21. Will Joshua reclaim his former glory, or will Dubois seize his moment and solidify his place at the top?
@ppv_com Daniel Dubois celebrating his birthday by manifesting this KO 🎂 #JoshuaDubois | Sept. 21 LIVE on @ppv_com 🎥: @queensberry/x
