Daniel Dubois stops Filip Hrgovic to set up Anthony Joshua fight

Daniel Dubois stopped Filip Hrgovic on cuts in Spherical 8 on Saturday to arrange an enormous combat in opposition to former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua at London’s Wembley Stadium on Sept. 21.

Dubois (21-2, 20 KOs), 26, from south London, was getting on high within the combat earlier than the stoppage after 57 seconds into the eighth spherical when the ringside physician suggested the referee to halt the bout because of cuts over each of Hrgovic’s eyes. Hrgovic suffered a sickening reduce by the suitable eye within the second spherical and was then reduce once more over his left eye just a few rounds later.

Hrgovic (17-1, 14 KOs), 31, from Zagreb, Croatia, had been ready for a shot on the IBF title for 2 years, however it’s now Dubois who progresses to face English rival Joshua in September when the vacant IBF world heavyweight title may very well be on the road.

Two-time world champion Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs), 34, was ringside in Saudi Arabia to see the largest win of Dubois’ profession that earned him the IBF interim title.

“I used to be a bit chilly to begin with, however I heard the recommendation from the nook,” Dubois stated. “As soon as I felt just a few pictures, I awoke, and I used to be on it. Within the seventh spherical, I used to be attending to him, and it was coming collectively. I am simply so happy with myself for this. I used to be all-time low final yr, however now I am on high.

“I’ve heard Anthony Joshua is subsequent.”

Dubois versus Joshua would be the greatest combat in the UK this yr, with nearly all of high bouts now being staged in Saudi Arabia. It additionally would be the greatest combat of Dubois’ profession, which he has rebuilt following knockout losses to Oleksandr Usyk and Joe Joyce.

Hrgovic versus Dubois was the fourth bout of 5 within the promoter-versus-promoter contest at Kingdom Enviornment in Riyadh. Going into the ultimate combat between Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang, Frank Warren’s Queensberry was assured of victory with an 8-0 lead over Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom.

Hrgovic frequently landed proper palms in an thrilling first spherical that noticed each boxers throw energy punches.

Dubois, who was stopped by undisputed world heavyweight champion Usyk within the ninth spherical in August, didn’t make any changes within the second spherical and continued to get nailed by the suitable hand.

Hrgovic, who completed Spherical 2 with a reduce by his proper eye brought on by a punch, landed lots of punches in a dominant fourth spherical. Dubois stored coming ahead although, and by the midway level, Hrgovic was trying weary in addition to bloody.

Blood from cuts above each eyes streamed down Hrgovic’s face, and he lacked the identical power as he did earlier within the combat.

Dubois unloaded some large proper palms in a powerful seventh spherical, and his work charge was threatening to overwhelm Hrgovic when the combat was stopped in Spherical 8.

Sheeraz books world title shot in type

Hamzah Sheeraz secured a middleweight world title shot in type with an Eleventh-round stoppage win over Austin Williams.

Sheeraz (20-0, 16 KOs), 24, from Ilford, Essex, in England, has now stopped his previous 14 opponents after dropping Williams within the tenth spherical with a proper hook then forcing the stoppage with a flurry of punches early in Spherical 11.

WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames (23-1, 18 KOs) will defend the belt in opposition to Terrell Gausha on June 15, and Sheeraz is mendacity in look ahead to the winner of that conflict on the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“If I am not prepared now for a world title combat, I by no means might be,” Sheeraz stated following a formidable efficiency. “I knew the tempo I set for this combat. I am not usually somebody who units a excessive tempo, however for this one, I needed to.”

“Ammo” Williams (16-1, 11 KOs), 28, from Houston, made a powerful begin, however after just a few rounds, Sheeraz was into his stride and touchdown energy punches. In Spherical 6, Williams was caught frequently with stiff jabs, and his proper eye was starting to swell shut.

Sheeraz landed extra jabs and two quick uppercuts in Spherical 8, and he caught Williams with a proper to the jaw within the ninth because the English fighter took management.

On the finish of the tenth, Williams was dropped by a sweeping proper hook however was saved by the bell. Within the Eleventh, Sheeraz rapidly started to tee off on Williams and after touchdown a sequence of punches flush, referee Mark Lyson sensibly stepped in to cease the combat after solely 45 seconds of the spherical.