Joshua vs Dubois & undercard betting preview

96,000 fans will pack Wembley Stadium on Saturday night as Daniel Dubois defends his IBF heavyweight title against Anthony Joshua. For all the latest fight odds, visit our sportsbook.

Experience has taught us to expect the unexpected from Riyadh Season events but it would be a major surprise if the main event didn’t catch fire and produce something memorable and before Dubois and Joshua get into the ring, there is an exciting undercard on offer.

The spectacular shows seem to draw an extra something out of the fighters and we have seen shocks, knockouts and a series of outstanding fights.

There are six fights on the show this weekend and at least four of them are excellent, well matched affairs.

Let’s see if we can pick some winners.

MARK CHAMBERLAIN vs. JOSH PADLEY

Mark Chamberlain made the most of his unexpected elevation from the domestic small hall scene, now Josh Padley gets the chance to make his name on a Riyadh Season show.

Chamberlain’s knockout victory over Artjoms Ramlavs was tougher than expected but the exciting tenth round knockout caught the eye of Turki Alalshikh and earned him a call up to the undercard of the massive showdown between Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou.

Things couldn’t have gone much better since. The big punching and accurate Chamberlain has scored two exciting knockout victories and shot up the world rankings.

Central Area champion, Padley is a solid fighter and may cause Chamberlain some issues with his movement and speed but is the smaller man and will be outgunned. Chamberlain would be a handy favourite if this fight were headlining a standard Friday night show at York Hall and although the venue and event should drag a career best performance out of Padley, Chamberlain should be able to solve the problems.

Chamberlain to track down Padley and win between rounds 7-8 is available at 21/4.

JOSH KELLY vs. ISHMAEL DAVIS

Josh Kelly spent weeks preparing for the grinding pressure and spiteful aggression that Liam Smith brings to the table. Instead, Smith’s late withdrawal meant that the skilful, slick Kelly will instead face the inexperienced Ishmael Davis.

Inexperience shouldn’t overshadow Davis’ ability, however. The man from Leeds is a talented operator who is comfortable working up close. He was already preparing for a fight and knows that he has the chance to change his life.

If Smith promised to provide Kelly with a severe test of his ability to withstand pressure, he should know too much for Davis and his speedy footwork and slick defensive skills should buy him the time he needs to outscore Davis. Kelly needs to build some momentum and may well look to make a statement over the second half of the fight but could find Davis to be a fit and strong late replacement.

Kelly to outpoint a determined Davis is priced at 10/11.

JOSHUA BUATSI vs. WILLY HUTCHINSON

Of all the fights on this weekend’s show, the light heavyweight fight between Buatsi and Hutchinson has generated the most friction between the two fighters.

The eccentric Hutchinson has clearly worked his way underneath Buatsi’s skin and the normally cool and composed former British champion was uncharacteristically hostile following the filming of a head to head interview.

Buatsi and Hutchinson have both beaten Craig Richards – Hutchinson managing it in more impressive fashion – and both have enjoyed amateur success. Hutchinson was a world youth champion whilst Buatsi won an Olympic bronze medal. It shouldn’t be forgotten that Hutchinson was shockingly stopped in a British super middleweight title fight by Lennox Clarke but he has looked strong and impressive since making a permanent move to light heavyweight.

Buatsi has flattered to deceive for much of his career but is a tremendously gifted fighter who has yet to really show his best. The conditions are in place for a career best performance. Hutchinson is a dangerous opponent, there is certainly an element of dislike between the two, the stage couldn’t be any bigger and the prize that awaits the winner – a shot at the winner of the upcoming undisputed title fight between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitrii Bivol – couldn’t be more appealing.

If you believe Buatsi can put everything together and win a wide decision, it is available at 2/1.

HAMZAH SHEERAZ vs. TYLER DENNY

Hamzah Sheeraz is one of the most spoken about young fighters in the world but it has been Tyler Denny’s unlikely rise which has dominated the pre-fight talk.

Sheeraz is renowned as a ferociously dedicated and attentive trainer but has been brought through the ranks brilliantly and groomed for success whereas Denny has forced his way into contention for a major fight. After a shaky start to his career, the man from Wolverhampton is currently on a tear. He is unbeaten in years and has collected a series of unbeaten records and the European middleweight title along the way. Last time out he looked better than ever and dominated Felix Cash.

Some fighters go through periods of their career where they appear physically and mentally unbreakable and Sheeraz may just be entering that stage of his career. He is big, tall and rangy and has a real desire to improve. His win over ‘Ammo’ Williams in June cemented his position as one of the brightest stars in the middleweight division and he should have enough to end the tough Denny’s excellent run.

Although Sheeraz is a hot favourite, Denny is a solid operator. You can get 23/25 on the fight lasting longer than 6.5 rounds.

ANTHONY CACACE vs. JOSH WARRINGTON

This intriguing looking super featherweight fight looks like boiling down to whoever can force the opponent to fight their own fight.

After a career spent making featherweight, Warrington should be ideally suited to the super featherweight division and maybe the extra four pounds in weight might just super charge his all action style. Warrington’s boxing ability and punching power is underrated but he should be better served by getting up close and personal with the big, wide shouldered Cacace who carries bone bruising power but has been plagued by injury and inactivity.

After enduring more than his fair share of frustrations, Cacace is riding high after stopping Joe Cordina to win the IBF title in June and will be confident of once again proving himself against Warrington who has won just two fights over the past five years and was controversially stopped by Leigh Wood last October.

Cacace’s world title may not be on the line but that is unlikely to affect either man too much and this may well be the fight of the night.

If you think a revitalised Warrington can grind down Cacace, you can back it at 17/5. Cacace will be confident of following up his stoppage win over Cordina with another inside the distance win, available at 33/20.

DANIEL DUBOIS vs. ANTHONY JOSHUA

Of all the fights that could be made in the heavyweight division, this may just be the most explosive, exciting match-up that could be put together.

Newly crowned IBF heavyweight champion, Dubois, fights with a seek and destroy style which injects drama into all of his fights and although he has done his best to eliminate the air of vulnerability that surrounded him in recent fights, he can still be hit cleanly. Dubois is a thunderous puncher and an excellent finisher.

So too is Joshua. However, the two-time unified heavyweight champion has been successful at a higher level for longer. He too has come through a tricky period in his career and appears to be a much more solid, relaxed fighter than he was just a couple of years ago.

Joshua looks settled and happy with Ben Davison and looks to have settled on a more considered style until he senses his man is ready to be taken out. Some still say that this version of Joshua isn’t as effective as the fighter who stormed through his first title run but just ask Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin and Francis Ngannou how dangerous he is.

Dubois is a different fighter to the man who allowed himself to be counted out against Joe Joyce and Oleksandr Usyk and walked through fire to stop Filip Hrgovic in June and if he can land his own heavy artillery before Joshua, things will get very interesting, very quickly.

This could well be a straight shootout but Joshua’s punches might just be a little faster and a little straighter.

Both fighters to be knocked down in thrilling battle is priced at 29/10. If you think Dubois can grind down the more experienced man for a late rounds win, you can back him to win between rounds 9 and 10 at 22/1. If you think Joshua can blow the younger man away, a Joshua win between rounds 1 and three is available at 17/2.

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