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Boxing

Fury or Usyk? Why Daniel Dubois could define Anthony Joshua's legacy in Wembley showdown

Fury or Usyk? Why Daniel Dubois could define Anthony Joshua's legacy in Wembley showdownMark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
The former two-time world champion is bidding to become king once again, but the result here will have reverberations for the rest of his career.

When Anthony Joshua steps out at Wembley Stadium for the fourth time in his career, it will be quite the sight.

The Briton first made his bow under the arch in 2014, on the undercard of Carl Froch vs. George Groves II, when he defeated Matt Legg.

He returned in 2017 and 2018 as a headliner, claiming victories against Wladimir Klitschko and Alexander Povetkin.

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All three performances helped mould his reputation, helped build his legacy. His victory over Klitschko, in particular, remains one of the heavyweight division's great encounters.

But perhaps there has never been more riding on this visit to Wembley Stadium than this one, particularly after two years of rebuilding a bruised reputation.

After twin defeats to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and 2022, Joshua has spent the past four fights steadily making his way back to the top of the pile.

There's no need to debate his place in history now - since turning professional more than a decade ago, he has conquered the competition time and again.

anthony-joshua-workout-120319-getty-ftr(Getty Images)

Yet the shape of his legacy may well be coloured by the result he draws against Daniel Dubois, another man determined to leave a lasting mark in his wake.

For the latter, this will be the first defence of the IBF heavyweight title he was awarded after Usyk was forced to vacate it earlier this year.

Like Joshua, defeat to the Ukrainian - one of just two career losses - last August has paved the way for a steady return towards the summit of the rankings.

Boxing is full of sliding doors. For every fighter that wins, there must be one that loses - and for every avenue that opens up, there will be another one that is closed off.

Speculation has mounted since this bout was confirmed that a win for Joshua would lay the path for two options - a trilogy fight with Usyk or a long-touted bout with Tyson Fury.

Still, there is the chance that defeat could still lead to one or both men in the future, dependent on the result of their own rematch set for December.

If Dubois is to pull off a successful defence and hand Joshua the fourth defeat of his career, it will send reverberations across the rest of the division.

Anthony JoshuaGettyImages

It announces himself as a contender once again, and likely the number one challenger to whoever wins in Saudi Arabia later this year, especially if Usyk maintains his form.

But it would also leave his opponent with the potential for a trilogy bout against his old foe, or his anticipated clash with Fury, with nothing but pride at stake.

For a man who has figured atop the conversation for the best part of a decade now, it would be a bitter frustration for Joshua to face either man without titles in the mix.

But while his reputation is sure to be enshrined, there's little escaping the fact Dubois could change the trajectory of his late career with one punch.

When Anthony Joshua steps out at Wembley Stadium, it will be quite the sight. Yet not for the first time, he must stand up to define his own place - and seize back his destiny.

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