ANTHONY Joshua is playing with Dynamite as his bid to become a three-time world heavyweight champion reaches its litmus test tomorrow, back at the scene of his greatest triumphs, Wembley Stadium.

The British boxing sensation almost single-handedly generated so much interest in the sport that boxing moved out of the leisure centres and sports halls and into sold out arenas and football stadiums.

His journey from London 2012 Olympic gold medallist to heavyweight champion of the world put boxing back on the primetime sporting landscape and made him and his team rich beyond means in the process.

But in sport, as in life, time waits for no man. And this weekend he faces the toughest test since losing his world titles to undisputed king Oleksandr Usyk.

The biggest post war boxing audience in Britain – almost 100,000 fans – will pack inside Wembley Stadium not only to see fan favourite Joshua, but also because the Brit in the opposing corner is primed to be his successor.

DYNAMITE

Daniel Dubois is 27, seven years younger than Joshua, and boasts 20 knockouts in 21 wins. In his short career he’s suffered setbacks; domestically to Joe Joyce and on the biggest stage against Usyk over in Poland.

But the manner in which he’s come back from those defeats is the true measure of DDD’s potential.

After turning pro aged 19, Dubois has had to learn on the job, and that garnered criticism.

After he took the knee against Joyce behind closed doors in 2020, contesting the European title, Dubois was labelled a quitter.

But, in reality, it’s likely the first time in his life he’d ever faced a strong, capable opponent as hard-hitting as ‘The Juggernaut’.

Four knockout wins later, including another box-ticking experience against unbeaten American Trevor Bryan on a Don King show in Miami, and Dubois found himself face to face with the world #1.

Regardless of whether you believe Usyk milked the low blow or was justified to recover from the foul in the fifth, Dubois went nine rounds with the best heavyweight on the planet with a controversy to take confidence from.

Since losing to Usyk, he’s stopped two unbeaten, game opponents also. Not only that, but Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic both hit Dubois with their best shots and yet he walked them down and knocked them out.

Make no mistake, Dubois is no quitter and he’s coming to win.

THE KING IS DEAD…

Joshua, now 28-3, has strung together four wins and three consecutive knockouts since losing back-to-back fights against Usyk – looking more impressive with each performance.

Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin and Francis Ngannou each tumbled one quicker than the other. But, unlike Dubois’ opponents, all were tainted.

Helenius took the fight at less than a week’s notice, Wallin is all-too familiar AJ sparring partner and Ngannou was disposed with the ease at which Tyson Fury should have dispatched the former UFC champion on his boxing debut months earlier.

In reality, we don’t exactly know where Joshua is at. He went gun shy after being stopped by Andy Ruiz in New York in 2019 and has failed to truly convince since.

Ask yourself; when the last time we saw AJ get hit, fall behind and turn things around in a fight? It was likely Alexander Povetkin, back in 2018.

However, that performance, just like his breakthrough display against Wladimir Klitschko in 2017, was inside Wembley Stadium. If ever there was a venue to inspire something special from the old King, a ring under the giant arch is definitely a prime location.

Joshua has to start as favourite and is familiar with Dubois from rounds sparring with Team GB. But, the longer this fight goes the tougher the assignment will get.

It’s a battle between Dubois left jab over AJ’s straight right. If Joshua lands clean and often then Dubois won’t survive past five rounds.

But, if he does move his feet, slips his head and offsets Joshua with that power jab then every minute he’s in there the fight becomes about will over skill.

In that match-up, I back Dubois to ride that early storm, likely get back to his feet and ultimately end Joshua’s championship career in truly sensational fashion.

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