Johnny Fisher brands Daniel Dubois ‘the hardest puncher I’ve EVER faced’ ahead of Wembley showdown with Anthony Joshua… as Tyson Fury’s ex-sparring partner explains where he went wrong against Oleksandr Usyk

Unbeaten British heavyweight Johnny Fisher insists Daniel Dubois is the biggest puncher he has ever been in the ring with and believes he is capable of shocking Anthony Joshua at Wembley.

Joshua and Dubois are set to face each other at England’s national stadium on September 21 with the IBF heavyweight title on the line.

 

Two-time champion Joshua is the strong favourite to regain his crown after winning his last four fights, including a spectacular two-round demolition of Francis Ngannou in March.

But Dubois has also proved he belongs on the world stage by winning two on the bounce in Saudi Arabia, and he came through some tough moments to see off the previously undefeated Filip Hrgovic last month.

Having been upgraded to IBF champion after Oleksandr Usyk opted to vacate the belt, Dubois will make his first defence against Joshua in a domestic dust-up.

And Fisher – who has sparred several elite heavyweights such as Tyson Fury – is adamant it will be no walkover for Joshua, after revealing exactly how hard Dubois hits.

‘I’ve sparred Dubois, I’ve sparred Fabio Wardley, Tyson Fury, Derek Chisora, Carlos Takam, Filip Hrgovic and many more but Dubois is the biggest puncher I’ve ever faced by far, Fisher told Mail Sport. ‘He can seriously, seriously whack.

 

‘He’s got more than a puncher’s chance. He’s got a good jab himself and the way he fought Filip Hrgovic, came through the first couple of rounds getting punched and getting hit quite regularly showed he’s got a good chin and he can come forward so it’s not a walkover by any means for Anthony Joshua.

‘If he rattles Joshua early he can send a few warning signals and he can get it done.’

Fisher cannot wait for the British pair to settle their differences in front of up to 100,000 fans at Wembley, but despite backing Dubois to cause Joshua problems, he admitted there are factors in AJ’s favour that could give him the edge.

‘It’s a great fight and it’s brilliant that it’s happening in England in Wembley,’ Fisher added.

‘If I’m thinking of it logically I think Joshua’s got a little bit too much know-how, a bit too much experience and should be the favourite in that fight.’

 

The heavyweight division is thriving at the moment, with another huge showdown on the horizon between Fury and Usyk.

Usyk beat Fury via split decision in May to become undisputed champion, but the Gypsy King will get his shot at redemption on December 21 when they square off again in Saudi Arabia.

Reflecting on why Fury fell short the first time around, his ex-sparring partner Fisher felt Fury’s weight and in-ring antics cost him in the gruelling 12-round contest, but backed him to put things right in the rematch.

‘I thought it was a very close fight. I thought or two rounds to Usyk is probably fair, but it wasn’t as if Fury was out of the fight,’ Fisher said.