Dubois vs Joshua Odds: AJ Opens as 2/9 Betting Favourite

| Wednesday 26th June 2024, 14:41pm

Wednesday 26th June 2024, 14:41pm

New IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois will make his first defence of the title against Anthony Joshua on Saturday, September 21 at Wembley Stadium. Early odds have emerged for this Battle of Britain as we begin the road to this explosive world title collision.

Early Dubois vs Joshua Odds

Joshua to win @ 2/9
Dubois @ 3/1
Draw @ 16/1

This all-UK clash had been anticipated since Dubois’ stunning upset win over Filip Hrgovic on June 1. ‘Dynamite’ took out the long-time IBF number-one contender in eight rounds to change the hierarchy of power in the heavyweight universe. Hrgovic had, perhaps unfairly, had to wait for an awfully long time for a title shot. Now the man who defeated him has been installed as the world champion without winning it in the ring.

Negotiations had been underway to allow undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk to make a title defence against Tyson Fury before accommodating the Hrgovic/Dubois winner. But, perhaps given the fact Usyk has already beaten ‘Dynamite’, the Ukrainian superstar chose to vacate the title.

Dubois was reigning IBF ‘interim’ champion after defeating Hrgovic for the vacant belt. Therefore, as soon as Usyk’s reign as champion ended, the 26-year-old became champion almost by default. While many will bemoan how such a move goes against boxing traditions, it should be noted the legendary likes of Ken Norton and Lennox Lewis did win world titles by similar means.

Despite the crowning of a new champion, the element most people will take away from this scenario is the fact Anthony Joshua has secured a world title shot for the first time in two years. ‘AJ’ has gone 4-0 with three knockouts since losing consecutive fights to Usyk. Wins over Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin and Francis Ngannou have slowly seen Joshua regain the ruthlessness that made him a heavyweight standout in the previous decade.

The early odds are in for this blockbuster British battle. ‘AJ’ is out-front at 2/9, with an implied probability of victory at 81.8%. Dubois is pitched as a 3/1 underdog or 25% in percentage terms. You can get 16/1 on the draw for a 5.9% shot.

Joshua’s weighty advantage is not surprising. While Dubois is coming off quality wins over Hrgovic and Jarrell Miller, ‘AJ’ has excelled at a far higher level. ‘Dynamite’ is taking his baby steps as a world champion, with his old WBA ‘regular’ strap not taken seriously by anyone.

Meanwhile, Joshua is an old hand at this level. The Olympic gold medallist is a two-time WBA, IBF and WBO champion. The Dubois fight will be his 13th outing in which a world championship has been on the line.

In terms of common opponents, both men have been beaten by the true heavyweight champion in Usyk. ‘The Cat’ outboxed ‘AJ’ across two fights and 24 rounds of action. Dubois went down in nine rounds in his own shot at Usyk, though he did have the champion on the floor with a shot the referee deemed low but where many disagreed.

These men have 49 victories between them with 45 knockouts combined. It is safe to say that fireworks are likely at Wembley in September. The cautious ‘AJ’ that faltered against Andy Ruiz Jr and Usyk looks to be a thing of the past given his recent dynamism. Meanwhile, Dubois only really knows one way and that is to fight with his heart, chin be damned. This fight has the potential to light up the capital.