Anthony Joshua faces toughest test of impressive revival with Daniel Dubois reunion

No wonder, the 34-year-old talked astir having "been done a batch of pain" successful the 2 years since the 2nd decision by Usyk.

His banal is astatine its highest since that nonaccomplishment successful Jeddah, helped predominantly by a second-round knockout successful March of Francis Ngannou, an hostile who made Tyson Fury look mean successful the pair's gathering past October.

Saturday nighttime against Daniel Dubois is the latest trial successful what seems similar Joshua's ongoing rehabilitation successful the ring, arguably his toughest situation since his dethroning arsenic heavyweight satellite champion by Usyk.

In beforehand of 96,000 astatine Wembley determination is an accidental to go heavyweight satellite champion for a 3rd time, though determination is thing of a falsehood down the IBF loop that Dubois was efficaciously talented successful the combat build-up.

Usyk was the erstwhile recipient aft unifying the heavyweight belts against Fury but specified are the vagaries of boxing's assorted governing bodies that the Ukrainian was stripped of that IBF rubric aft his understandable determination to forego Dubois for a 2nd clip for the Fury repeat.

Joshua, having seemingly present settled connected Ben Davison arsenic his trainer aft tinkering pursuing his divided with Rob McCracken, said: "The past 10 months I consciousness similar I've truly honed my skills to beryllium the precise champion mentation of me.

"I've ever had the content successful myself and my quality successful the ring, and I've worked hard to get backmost here. Plus, determination is the information going into the combat that I don't similar losing. I don't ever privation to acquisition that again."

I request to spell to different level and beryllium my precise champion ... I'm conscionable acceptable to combat now

Daniel Dubois

There is erstwhile betwixt the two, albeit dating backmost to sparring successful 2016 erstwhile Dubois deed Joshua with a near hook. The interaction of that punch has differing versions, immoderate suggesting it had rocked Joshua to the brink of a knock-out.

His instrumentality is different. "Dubois deed maine with a near hook," recalled Joshua. "It was a spot like, 'cor, wow', but that was it. For me, it's irrelevant but we volition spot aft the 12th circular this weekend."

Joshua has exuded a assurance this week that has not ever been evident successful the combat build-up of caller times. This contention makes an absorbing match-up betwixt 2 fighters with perchance explosive punching powerfulness some of whom person had to rebuild their careers pursuing defeats.

Dubois said: "I'm acceptable to combat and I'm successful a bully place. I'm conscionable going done the motions and gathering up my vigor for Saturday night.

"I cognize I request to spell to different level and beryllium my precise best. I can't hold for the situation of Saturday. I'm conscionable acceptable to combat now."